“All life begins with a bang” says winemaker John Thorpe of his fun, Gisborne-grown sparkler. Cosmos is made from 100% Chardonnay aged for just over two years in bottle before being released, it’s scented with lemon, breadcrust and yellow plum, and also boasts tangy citrus pith, nutty notes and creamy complexity on the finish. www.gisbornegourmet.com
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Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Verdelho 2017 $19 (5 star)
Verdelho the famous white grape grown on the Portuguese island of Madeira where for aeons it’s been used in the production of sherry. In 1998 the team at Esk Valley planted some in the rock star region of the Gimblett Gravels and in 2002 Gordon Russell produced the very first kiwi version. This shiny new … Read More
Paddy Borthwick Martinborough Pinot Gris 2016 $24
Full, fat and generous with its time, this pinot gris from Paddy Borthwick washes clean nashi and white peach flavours across your tastebuds, leaving a creamy yet spritzy texture behind. 33% of the juice is run into older French oak barrels to ferment, which adds toasty, tangy, spicy apple strudel characters that line the oesophagus … Read More
Ceres Black Rabbit Riesling 2017 $27.99
Holy apple sorbet Batman! This is one heck of a magnificent riesling from a stunning Central Otago site. True to its namesake, boy does this riesling have bounce! Crunchy green apple, ripe, juicy lime and truckloads of tangy tropical tastiness all jostle for attention. Yes there’s a smash of natural sweetness present, but it’s balanced … Read More
Black Stilt Waitaki Valley Riesling 2014 $25 (3.5 stars)
Waitaki sits on the border of North Otago and South Canterbury, and it’s one of the most remote and raw parts of the country. It has a kind of other-worldly feel to it, and the quality of the wines that come from the lime-laden soils of Richie McCaw country have power, purity and personality to … Read More
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2016 $24
Crafted from fruit sourced from Rockburn’s ‘Parkburn’ and ‘Gibbston Valley Back Road’ vineyards, I love the subtle splash of white pepper, nashi pear, fennel and white peach on both the nose and palate of this wine. Dry, clean and boasting underlying creamy, chalky textures and real fruit fullness, this beautifully balanced gris is long and … Read More
Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2014 $54
Richard Painter is the winemaker responsible for this mind-numbingly gorgeous chardonnay. The first sip made me want to get all Spinal Tap on it and turn my rating up to 11 out of 10. Vibrant and golden in the glass, with ripe, sexy grapefruit, peach and pineapple notes, it also possesses gunflint and quartzy, minerally … Read More
Hunter’s Unoaked Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 $18.99 (4 stars)
It’s funny how if you put the word “un” in front of something, then people assume it’s going to be lacking. However this heavenly little peachy creature from Hunters hits all the right spots. Juicy nectarine and grapefruity goodness, loaded with lemon and packed with pineapple-powered punch. Great weight and refreshing texture means it’s darn … Read More
Astrolabe Farm Marlborough Riesling 2016 ($23) 4 stars
This wine smells just like you’ve walked into an orchard growing lemons on one side and apples on the other. So intense yet so delicate and the palate reflects exactly that. But I’d expect nothing less however from Simon Waghorn, winemaker extraordinaire and all-round riesling rockstar. Crafted from his home farm vineyard in Marlborough’s Grovetown … Read More
Erben Bürgermeister Lauer Mosel-Saar-Ruwer 1996 Riesling Spätlese Neumagener Rosengärtchen ($57) 4 stars
Yes it’s on the pricey side, but it’s worth every cent and besides, when was the last time you tasted a 21-yearold riesling? Some assume that the word ‘spatlese’ is going to mean the wine will be really sweet. Yet this incredibly fresh riesling from the famous Neumagener Rosengärtchen vineyard is beautifully balanced. Scented with … Read More