Organic wine icons Claudia and Mike Weersing of Pyramid Valley, have decided to work with a tiny group of special winegrowers around New Zealand to produce these ‘Growers Series’ wines. This vineyard was planted in 1983 by Ivan Sutherland, the legendary viticulturist behind Cloudy Bay and Dog Point and 30-plus years vine age has produced … Read More
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Two Rivers ‘Juliet’ Marlborough Riesling 2015 $19.99
Righto. Hands up who wants a riesling positively erupting with mandarin, apple and lime! Hands up who wants riesling that rocks a splash of sweetness but has crisp, clean, zing-a-ling acidity and a long, racy mouthfeel! Hands up…wait, you’ve got no more hands. Just as well you’ve got tastebuds to enjoy the waves of honeysuckle … Read More
Johner Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2016 $24
Karl Heinz Johner makes wine in opposite hemispheres, with family estates in Baden, (in Germany’s Kaiserstuhl region) AND in Martinborough’s Gladstone sub-region. Riesling is a hero grape for him and he loves the crunchy green acidity, pear notes, baked apple, lime zest and honey characters that Martinborough grapes give so much, he’s decided to spend … Read More
Greenhough Apple Valley Nelson Riesling 2016 $20
Every year I marvel at the amount of intense granny smith and jazz-apple crispness and concentrated, spritzy, lime-laden sweetness that they manage to cram into this wine. Sourced from a tiny, north-facing vineyard on Apple Valley Road (cutest road name ever) overlooking the Moutere estuary, it’s terrifically tangy, taut and ultra-refreshing. It hits that perfect … Read More
Sacred Hill Riflemans Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 $69.95
I’ve often said that when I die I want this wine piped into my veins instead of embalming fluid. I want to take it with me to the grave it’s that good. 2015 saw superb growing conditions in Hawke’s Bay, the third exceptional year in a row for this national treasure vineyard to shine. The … Read More
Haythornthwaite Ursula Martinborough Pinot Gris 2012 $25
Don’t freak out if when you pull the cork (Yes, you’ll need one of those cork-pully-outy things) and you see tiny crystals attached to it. These ‘wine diamonds’ are safe, natural and a sign of a wine made without fining or filtration. Named after Mark Haythornthwaite’s sister, (who adores dry white wines), here’s a richly … Read More
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2016 $24.95
Tim Preston and Paul Dawick are like the Batman and Robin, the Han Solo and Chewbacca, the Spongebob and Patrick (modern parent reference there) of winemaking duo’s, leaping into every wine adventure with gusto, and this gris is testament to that. Enjoy its aromas of poached quince, pear and apple followed by a deliciously dry, … Read More
Fairhall Downs Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris 2016 $23.95
Smelling this wine is like walking into an apple packhouse. Intoxicating waves of Golden Delicious, Gala and Rose assail the olfactories, and once they wash across the tastebuds, a ribbon of nashi, nectarine and white pepper wraps them all up and sends them south in a tsunami of dry, softly prickly acidity and powdery textural … Read More
O:Tu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $17 ★★★★
Wow! If you’re partial to green, green and more greeny goodness in your sauvignon blanc, then this may be just the wheel-spinner you’re looking for. Scented with intense jalapeno, basil and blackcurrant leaf and tomato stalk notes, followed by a smash of passionfruit and lime. Great value, crisp and crunchy. www.winebox.co.nz
Millton Clos de Ste. Anne Gisborne Chardonnay 2014 $75 ★★★★★
This is one of those wines that makes me want to do a little dance as soon as I sniff it. It’s just a joy to drink if you get my drift. It’s like (and believe me I’m seriously sober writing this) the wine is giving you a little oral high-five with every sip. Golden … Read More