Elephant Hill Sea Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $59 Wow! You definitely know this has come from an oceanfront vineyard (Te Awanga) because the vein of salinity is strong in this one. I love it! Super-juicy, beautiful oak handling, silky, succulent and crammed with grapefruit it’s 88% clone 15 and 22% clone 95 handpicked, whole bunch … Read More
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Giesen Estate New Zealand Riesling 2022
Giesen Estate New Zealand Riesling 2022 $12-$15 Paired with: Masala Fish Curry in the NZ Herald CANVAS magazine 11.3.2023 This chirpy little supermarket staple has won so many awards over recent decades that the Giesen brothers have had to add support struts to the trophy cabinet to cope with the weight of all the heavy … Read More
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2022 $24.99 Paired with: Spicy Mexican Prawns in NZ Herald CANVAS March 11 2023 Coriander, lime, garlic, chipotle and chilli? Pardon me but I’m about to paradiddle down to pinot gris town with this prawn recipe (shout out to all the percussionists out there). The rocky, high-altitude, free-draining soils of … Read More
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Albariño 2022 $23.99 Zesty-fresh and crunchy on the tongue and gums, this green apple-packed example is like an exfoliant for your palate. Dry, linear, lime-layered and mineral-dusted. It’ll also appeal to those who love a dry pinot gris or grigio as it has that whipcrack acidity and cleansing finish. Shed530 … Read More
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Shed 530 Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $23.99 Classic, tropic-tastic Hawke’s Bay sauvignon blanc on show here. Juicy, peachy, with hints of passionfruit and punchy pawpaw, it’s also edged with very attractive basil and lemongrassy layers. Softly structured, plush and easy on the gills, it’s a crowd-pleaser for sure. Shed530
Delta Hatters Hill Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2021
Delta Hatters Hill Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2021 $26 Heather Stewart is like the high priestess of gorgeous grüner veltliner. And when she gets her mitts on premium, Omaka Valley-grown grapes, lookout! Steady yourself for a rush of apple and lime blossom aromas and a roar of intensely fresh, crunchy citrus and nashi-like flavours. The textures … Read More
Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2022
Akitu Central Otago Pinot Noir Blanc 2022 $40 Freshly crushed pinot has been whisked off its red skins lickety-split and then made as if it were a white wine — and I absolutely love it. Scented with gentle stone fruit, fennel, white pepper and apple notes, it has flirty-fresh flavours of citrus, yellow plum and … Read More
Yealands Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021
Yealands Reserve Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021 $19.95 Stacked with Summer flowers, anise, nashi and ginger-laced, soothing spices on the nose, it has a rich, creamy, leesy, feel to it and roars with red pear notes on the finish. Stylish and showing superb fruit purity, it’s refreshing yet richly structured and a satisfying sip that’ll wow … Read More
Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Jules Taylor OTQ Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $35 Handpicked fruit from Jules’ Holdaway vineyard, was whole-cluster pressed into old oak barriques and wild fermented then a malolactic ferment softened the acidity and injected layers of lemongrassy complexity. A creamy softness adds to its smoked capsicum character and compliments the seam of citrus intensity at its … Read More
Astrolabe Wrekin Late Harvest Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2022
Astrolabe Wrekin Late Harvest Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2022 $32 From one of New Zealand’s premium chenin blanc vineyards comes this nectarine and yellow plum-packed sweetie that has an incredibly fresh core of citrus and hints of honeysuckle. I love how zesty and energetic this wine is, sweet but vibrant and beautifully balanced. Astrolabe