Sea Level Home Block Pinot Gris 2011 $19 ★★★★½ I love the aromas of frangipane, nashi and crème caramel while in the mouth there are layers of gingerbread, quince, pear and prickly, textural acidity. Created from fruit grown in their Mariri vineyard by talented winemaker Sam Smail, this flavourful pinot gris finishes dry and delicious. … Read More
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Kaimira Brightwater Gewurztraminer 2009
Kaimira Brightwater Gewurztraminer 2009 $23 ★★★★★ At 14.5% alc I was expecting this wine to have a hot, stringy, slightly resinous character but this wine delivers quite the opposite. It hits the sweet spot between musky floral notes, rich, ripe, peachy characters and a long, elegantly spicy finish. It’s exotically perfumed with a seam of sweetness … Read More
Gladstone Estate 12,000 miles Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Gladstone Vineyard 12,000 miles Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2012 $19 ★★★½ A superb sauvignon showing peach fuzz, passionfruit and citrus aromas that lead to punchy, cheek-sucking acidity, blackcurrant leaf, pineapple and herbaceous flavours and an intense, lime-laden finish. I’d love to taste this again in 12 months time when it’s had a chance to soften slightly. … Read More
Isabel Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012
Isabel Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris 2012 $22 ★★★★ This is one of my new favourite pinot gris styles because I love the juicy, marmalade, peach and quince flavours and the rich, deeply textural mouthfeel. It hits that balance between mid-palate generosity and dryness, cleansing crispness and long, luxurious length of flavour. www.glengarry.co.nz
Haha Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012
Haha Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 $16 ★★★★★ Wow! This is intense, concentrated stuff. Each glass is packed with passionfruit, lime and blackcurrant leaf loveliness on the nose and palate. Punchy and pungent, with a glorious, gum-tingling texture – it’s darn flash and should definitely be in your fridge this summer. www.hahawine.com
Richmond Plains Nelson Chardonnay 2011
Richmond Plains Nelson Chardonnay 2011 $19 ★★★½ This smells like a peach cupcake with grapefruit icing, it’s seriously tangy and tropical with lovely concentration and a seam of toasty oak to wrap up the finish. Delicious with pan-seared scallops topped with toasted almonds. www.richmondplains.co.nz
Wild River Dry Pinot Gris 2011
Wild River Dry Pinot Gris 2011 $14.99 ★★★½ Made by Mt. Brown Vineyards in Waipara, this is a crunchy, dry white with clean pear and apple skin characters and some interesting spicy flavours and a mineral-driven finish. Available from www.finewinedelivery.co.nz
Te Mata Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2007
2007 Te Mata Cape Crest $30 (★★★★★) is sublime and then some. Delicious toasty notes on the nose combine with elderflower, freshly milled timber and crushed herb characters all followed by a burst of white peach and lime and finished with harmonious, honeysuckle-like loveliness. Delicate and minerally with a seam of coconut and lime pannacotta running … Read More
AMISFIELD CENTRAL OTAGO DRY RIESLING 2010
AMISFIELD CENTRAL OTAGO DRY RIESLING 2010, $30 Subtle mango sorbet and delicate limey citrus notes are what you’ll find on the nose, yet in the mouth it’s a different pot of pesce altogether. Full flavoured, rich, concentrated fruit flavours are fleshed out with mineral-driven intensity, lipsmacking acidity and punch on the palate. It’s a beautiful … Read More
Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2010
CRAGGY RANGE GIMBLETT GRAVELS CHARDONNAY 2010, $34 Drool-inducing aromas of grapefruit pith, ripe peach and buttered crumpets slathered in honey. It’s succulent and juicy with tropical tones and nicely balanced, gently-managed toasty oak to counter the fruit sweetness. Crisp and tangy, it’s a real treat and worth every cent. www.craggyrange.com