VNO ‘Skinny’ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $16.99 ★★★ “Light” or “skinny” wines are here to stay, the category is growing and they’re improving all the time – completely putting me in my place because I was one of the early cynics who thought they’d be just a fad. With a limey, lemony lift combined with … Read More
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Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015 $24 ★★★★½ I love the heady quince, spiced apple and peach custard aromas, while in the mouth the wine has a sexy, creamy dryness. There’s a lovely rich, yet chalky texture to this wine and it’s all wrapped up in a long, full, finish. Clean, satisfying and … Read More
Mud House Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015
Mud House Marlborough Pinot Gris 2015 $14.99 ★★★★ Scented with apple strudel, poached pear and all sorts of enticing spices, this pinot gris has serious ‘drink me’ factor. Layered with white fruits and showing a tangy, layered flavour profile – this definitely ticks all the boxes for fruit, style and sippability. Widely available.
Ceres Composition Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014
Ceres Composition Central Otago Pinot Gris 2014 $29 ★★★★ Ceres (seh-rez) is a Bannockburn-based company run by Central Otago royalty, the Dicey family. They know that pinot gris comes in a vast array of styles, so they’ve helped pinpoint the flavour of this by including a helpful ‘fuel gauge’ on the label telling us that … Read More
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 $14.99 ★★★★ Named after the mud-block house that original owners John and Jennifer Joslin built on their Marlborough vineyard, this wine has, over the passing decades and through multiple ownership changes, gone on to do great things. Now firmly in the hands of a winemaking team headed by Ben … Read More
Spinyback Nelson Chardonnay 2014
Spinyback Nelson Chardonnay 2014 $17 ★★★½ Made by the team at Waimea Estates, this is a tangy, tropical, fruit salad style of chardonnay that I know loads of people will love because it doesn’t have that toasty, oaky flavour. Lighter peachiness, with a splash of pineapple and mango, means it’s an easy, fresh and lively … Read More
Byrne Vineyard Northland Chardonnay 2014
Byrne Vineyard Northland Chardonnay 2014 $29 ★★★★½ I really like the creamy, honeyed toast aromas in this wine, they merge with the youthful oak, and ripe nectarine and grilled pineapple punch in the mid palate. This is lovely stuff indeed from winemaker Ben Byrne – a definite Northland star producer. www.byrnewine.com
Lawsons Dry Hills Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014
Lawsons Dry Hills Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014 $23 ★★★★½ Tangaliciously tasty quince, crunchy apple, roast pear and spicy, strudel-like flavours make this a definite new favourite for me. Full-flavoured, rich and luxurious to drink – it’s fresh and has a splash of sweetness on the finish. Fantastic with aromatic Indian dishes. www.lawsonsdryhill.co.nz
Matawhero Barrel Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2013
Matawhero Barrel Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2013 $25.99 ★★★★★ I love the scent of this wine, it’s all toasted croissants, grilled nectarines, custard squares and fresh pinapple in the glass. Deliciously layered with tropical tones, elegant spices and crisp, tangy acidity on the finish. It’s gorgeousness from Gisborne that you definitely should try pronto. www.glengarrywines.co.nz
Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013
Greywacke Marlborough Pinot Gris 2013 $30 ★★★★½ Pinot gris has proved an unstoppable force in this country, particularly over the last decade. It’s now our fourth most-widely-planted variety and our wine producers are now crushing a whopping 24000 tonnes of the stuff. That’s almost 1500 times the quantity they were processing in 2005. Kevin Judd of … Read More