Softer and much creamier than most squint-inducing Marlborough sauvignon blancs, this wine has a hint of toast and watercress on the nose, marzipan and just a sneaky squeak of lemongrass, lime zest and dried herbs. It’s Marlborough sauvignon but with an edgy, slightly smoky side. Allan Scott’s son Josh heads the winemaking team and he’s … Read More
Archives
Cloudy Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $36 ★★★★½
This new vintage of what’s become an Antipodean icon, has all the hallmarks of becoming another stunner. I say ‘becoming’ because despite this wine already boasting punchy basil, sweet pea, passionfruit and crunchy-fresh citrus and floral characters – I personally really love drinking this wine in the height of summer, a few months on from … Read More
Billaud-Simon Chablis 2014 $41 (4 stars)
That delicious, chalky, limestone & crushed oyster shell character merges with lemon pith, white pepper, green apple and a faint touch of almond to produce a really pretty chardonnay that’s light yet beautifully structured in the mouth. Waves of white florals and spice lull you into thinking it’s going to be a gentle ride until … Read More
Pask Declaration Gimblett Gravels Declaration Chardonnay 2014 $50 (5 stars)
Chardonnay lovers have I got a bottle of ‘batta bing, batta bing’ for you! Crafted by the seriously talented team at Pask, (where it’s compulsory to adore chardonnay) here’s a grapefruit and peach-packed wine stitched together with butterscotch, custard crème, tweaks of cinnamon and a long, juicy finish. As soon as you sip, your palate … Read More
The Natural Wine Co. Gisborne Pinot Gris 2016 $19.95 (4.5 stars)
How’s this for hands-off winemaking. Organic fruit harvested a little later than normal to enhance the fruit sweetness and then the juice is left to soak overnight with the skins to extract a little more texture and complexity. Extended lees stirring during a ferment kickstarted with wild yeasts from the vineyard itself has added layers … Read More
Cliffhanger Mosel Riesling 2015 $24 (4 stars)
Now why would you make it easy on yourself by planting your vineyard on nice, even, flat land, when you can pop your plants on rough, rocky cliffs overlooking the banks of the Mosel River. But it’s these extremes creating the eruption of green apple intensity, honeysuckle, lime and lipsmacking, tropical acidity. This German riesling … Read More
Pegasus Bay Waipara Sauvignon Semillon 2015 $31 (4.5 stars)
This rare-for-here blend is now a North Canterbury icon, and it’s definitely one of those try-before-you-die styles. Crafted by Mat Donaldson from vines now 30+ yrs old, both the sauvignon blanc and the semillon parcels were fermented with wild yeasts and 15% of the sauvignon went into brand new French oak, while the semillon stayed … Read More
Greystone Waipara Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $22 (4.5stars)
100% of the sauvignon blanc juice was fermented in French oak before a smidge (10%) was put through a malolactic ferment to add a creamy, textural layer. After maturation in barrel for another months before being bottled back in December, you’d expect this sauvignon to be seriously toasty. However it’s remarkably herbaceous, floral and fresh, … Read More
The Boneline Waipara Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $23 (4 stars)
The Tutton family are deeply connected to the Waipara River which runs through their property and has, over the years, offered up a smorgasbord of fossils. The Riverbone has a Megalodon tooth on the label, a tooth as big as owner Vic Tutton’s hand “It’s so lovely with perfect striations down each side of the … Read More
Seresin OSIP Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 $24 (3.5 stars)
Named after an ‘extraordinary’ family relative of Seresin’s founder Michael Seresin, the OSIP wines are the result of a decade-long project to remove additions in the winery. Winemaker Clive Dougall has used wild yeasts, and absolutely no sulphur or other non-naturals have been added. Seresin have been producing certified organic and biodynamically grown wines since … Read More