It’s been 11 years since the Thomas family first put vines in the ground at Greystone and then harvested for this vintage. The chardonnay is now really hitting its straps. Rich and golden in the glass and smelling of, oh lord, just the most delicious melange of almond biscuits rubbed with grapefruit pith and dipped … Read More
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Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Chardonnay 2014 $40.00
This lightly creamy Martinborough chardonnay is crafted by John Kavanagh and has fresh, lifted nectarine, rockmelon, just the subtlest of toasty notes and a lovely fresh juicy character. It’s elegant yet mouthfilling and supremely satisfying. Clean, vibrant and zingy – it’s the type of chardonnay that’ll make your tastebuds stand to attention, aching to impress. … Read More
JK.14 Mamma Piave Manzoni Bianco 2015 $26.99
“Just do what Mamma says, and we all stay happy…” it what it says on the front label of the bottle of this super-complex bottle of pinot bianco. The nose has a seriously floral perfume, almost pollen-like, with hints of your grandmothers face cream. Sounds odd, but it’s oddly lovely. In the mouth there’s a … Read More
Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings White Central Otago Blended White 2014 $24.95
A truly mesmeric blend of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Muscat crafted by Jody Pagey and Len Ibbotson – from grapes grown on a rather special patch of dirt down the end of Felton Road in Bannockburn. I’m a huge fan of blended, aromatic whites because they’re so exotic and complex. This example is spicy-dry, … Read More
Man O’War Paradise Waiheke Pinot Gris 2016 $29.00
Standing in this tiny vineyard on Ponui Island overlooking Te Kawau Bay, you could easily imagine yourself in paradise and want to remain their full-time. And then you remember that it’s hard work making wine – so you shrug and say “best leave this to someone else” and walk away. Winemaker Duncan McTavish and viticulturist … Read More
Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Martinborough Pinot Gris 2016 $25.00
Crafted by the ridiculously talented Paul Mason, Martinborough Vineyard is a veritable aristocrat insofar as pinot gris production is concerned. A pioneer of the region, having started in 1980, they know how to craft elegantly structured, deliciously dry pinot gris with lashings of nashi, ginger, quince and white pepper on the palate. Its persistent length … Read More
Greenhough Nelson Gewurztraminer 2014 $26.00
Andrew Greenhough is an absolute legend insofar as aromatics are concerned. I get really excited every time I see a pinot gris or a riesling from him, but lately I’ve wondered “where’s the gewurz?” That’s because it’s been mostly sent overseas – but huzzah! We’ve snaffled some after much begging and pleading and promising to … Read More
Black Peak Wanaka Riesling 2015 $26.00
I’m only a recent convert to Black Peak, having kicked myself constantly over recent weeks for not having known about James McElrea’s talents til now. After years of working across various Central Otago sub-regions he’s gone out on his own, nurturing a schist, gravel and mineral-quartz rich site, in little known Queensbury district above the … Read More
36 Bottles Central Otago Riesling 2013 $25.00
If you’ve been looking for lime in all the wrong places fret not, here’s your remedy. Grown in the desert-scape of Central Otago’s Bannockburn sub-region, this is a classic dry riesling bursting with green apple, lemon, lime, waves of squeaky acidity and a marathon-like finish that just keeps sprinting along the palate. Named after the … Read More
Toi Toi Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 $30.00
Oh my goodness – prepare yourself for a hit of grapefruit sorbet, nectarine, grilled pineapple and waves of crunchy acidity to break across your tastebuds. The oak is impressively toasty, spicy and beautifully integrated with the fruit. The Joyce and Bonner families are the talent behind Toi Toi and every year their chardonnay just gets … Read More