Sacred Hill Orange Label Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $19 ★★★★½ You can buy this wine pretty much everywhere, which is a good thing if you’ve a hankering for pungent, classic cut grass, lemony, limey notes, a twang of snappy acidity and a mid-palate rich in lemongrass, passionfruit, peach, pepper and a burst of basil. It’s … Read More
Archives
Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2013
Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon 2013 $30 ★★★★★ The Donaldson family in Waipara, North Canterbury, have been crafting this quirky version of sauvignon since AGES ago, and it’s now got something resembling a cult following for its incredibly complex, toasty, tropical and herbaceous flavours. A splash of semillon imparts a distinct ‘moist hay’ and roasted almond … Read More
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Richmond Plains Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $21 ★★★★ Fact: Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first sauvignon blanc from fully-certified organic and biodynamic grapes years ago, and they’re still doing excellent work. Floral and forward, it’s stacked with peach and passionfruit, tangy citrus and even a squeak of feijoa makes it in there. It’s a sauvignon … Read More
Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Waipara Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20.90 ★★★★★ This is a massive, tropical, truckload of tastiness powered by sweet lemon and passionfruit sorbet. It has all that crispy, crunchy acidity that we know and love in Marlborough sauvignon, yet it’s incredibly rich and complex and has strong, textural length of flavour. Simon McGeorge heads the … Read More
Soho Betty Riesling 2015
Soho Betty Riesling 2015 $22 ★★★★½ There’s just 9.4% alcohol here, so expect a shwing of sweetness in this absolute cracker of a riesling that smells and tastes like crunchy green apple and lime sorbet. Named after the elegant Betty Ford this is an elegant wine indeed. With its intense, snappy acidity, sweet honeysuckle and … Read More
Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $20 ★★★½ This is a highly fruity and tropically-scented sauvignon that’s packed with passionfruit, peach and lovely lemony goodness on the palate as well. At just 10% alcohol it’s definitely one of the more generously proportioned low-alcohol styles I’ve tried and it has good length of flavour too. Widely available … Read More
Theory & Practice Gisborne Chardonnay 2014
Theory & Practice Gisborne Chardonnay 2014 $19.95 ★★★★ Crafted by Ant McKenzie, (wine consultant to the stars) and his viticulturist brother Bryce, this is a cracker of a chardonnay that’s jam-packed with juicy tropical fruit and grilled citrus notes alongside caramelised, toasty characters and edged with creamy, custard square pastry-like notes. Fresh and tangy. To … Read More
Bellbird Spring Home Block White 2013
Bellbird Spring Home Block White 2013 $30 ★★★★ Guy Porter has blended together an eyebrow-raising combo of riesling, muscat, gewürztraminer and pinot gris from his family vineyard on Georges Road, Waipara to create a wine redolent of yellow roses and grandma’s overnight bag – perfumed and sweet on the nose. In the mouth it has … Read More
Marisco Pride and Glory Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Marisco Pride and Glory Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 $65 ★★★★★ Yes, you saw it correctly, a four year old sauvignon blanc that’s a new release! For Brent Marris and his team this has been a special project to produce a sassily complex sauvignon sourced from the Waihopai Valley that oozes white peach, lemon verbena, creamy … Read More
Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Chardonnay 2014
Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Chardonnay 2014 $30 ★★★★ If you’re a fan of funky, full-bodied, stonefruit-soaked chardonnay that has a healthy vein of spice and smoke then this is definitely one to pop away in the cellar. With lovely layers of grapefruit and grilled pineapple, this wild-yeast fermented wine from Marlborough’s Wairau and Southern valley’s … Read More