This organically produced wine is golden and glossy in the glass and absolutely heaves with heady spices, musky pot pourri and Turkish delight aromas. On the palate it’s defiantly dry, boasting a touch of flinty, mineral and ginger-edged heat, layers of ripe stonefruit and has a long, indulgently exotic finish. Sip with: Saag Chicken Tikka … Read More
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Hawkshead Central Otago Riesling 2014 $28
This stony, sun-baked pocket of perfection regularly reveals racy, riotously good riesling. Winemaker Dean Shaw has captured intense lime, grapefruit and mandarin flavours dusted with quartz and flint to create this luscious, lip-smacking sip. Owner Denis Marshal is an ex minister of Conservation, Minister of Lands and the Associate Minister of Agriculture, so he’s totally … Read More
Monte Carbonare Suavia 2014 $29.90
How groovy is this bottle? It’s name, ‘Monte Carbonare’ means ‘Hill of Coal’, probably derived from the deep, volcanic soils of Veneto where it’s grown. This Soave (sew-arvay) is made from 100% Garganega grapes and I love the dry, cleansing texture and lemon pith, lychee, peach and quince layers. It’s gorgeous – more please! Sip … Read More
Cà dei Frati I Frati Lugana 2015 $29.90
Don’t let the discombobulating name worry you because as soon as you sip this wonderful Italian white, all will be right with the world. Crafted from 100% Turbiana (a rare, indigenous white grape) grown around the Lake Garda area of Veneto, this is stunningly aromatic, all apricot stone, nectarine and quince, followed by ultra-zesty acidity, … Read More
Bald Hills Central Otago Pinot Gris 2015 $28 ★★★★★
How clean, light, tangy and terrific is this wine? I’ll tell you. It’s darn excellent ok. It’s so good it’ll turn even the most hard-boiled pinot gris Grinch. Bursting with ripe pear, peach, quince and yummy yuzu flavours, it’s delicious on every level. Central Otago has real talent for this variety. Sip with: smoked chicken … Read More
Matahiwi Holly Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $26 ★★★★★
One sip and I punched both fists in the air and yelled out “Jane Cooper is a genius!” Jane’s been creating award winning wines at Matahiwi since 2002 and when it comes to making darn glorious sauvignon, she’s a master. I love the intense nectarine, fresh mango and lime flavours that smash across the palate. … Read More
Earthkeepers Otiake Blend #1 2013 $30
Here’s a gorgeously floral, delicately structured blend of pinot gris, riesling and gewürztraminer grown in the Waitaki Valley, one of the most unforgiving wine regions in the country. Aromas of crushed shells, lemon pith, nashi pear, lychee, guava and white peach all lead to a juicy, spice-driven, richly textured and rather moody, magical wine. It … Read More
Tony Bish Skeetfield Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 $55
Bish’s name is synonymous with crafting some of New Zealand’s most iconic chardonnays and here’s his flagship creation under his solo brand. Sourced from old, dry-farmed Mendoza clone fruit from Denis Gunn’s vineyard in Hawke’s Bay’s Ohiti district, it shows layers of grapefruit pith, hazelnut, crisp, crunchy-fresh stonefruit marrying with soft, creamy notes in the … Read More
Brightwater Lord Rutherford Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $30
Whenever Brightwater release a ‘Lord Rutherford’ you know it’s something pretty special. Viticulturist Dale Springer nurtures the vines through each season, while winemaker Tom Southgate shepherds the fruit through the winery and into this bottle. With its smoked passionfruit, soft herbs, citrus and marzipan notes, this is Sauvignon but not as we know it. Sip … Read More
Jacqueson Bouzeron “Les Cordères” 2014 $33
Harvested from a parcel of aligote grapes first planted in 1937. This example has a curiously comforting aroma of apple crumble, nougat complexity, oatcakes and lemon combined with peach stone, white pepper and dry, crunchy, green-apple acidity in the mouth. Aligote is not a variety you see much of in New Zealand so get amongst … Read More