Petane Puriri Block Sfumato Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020

15 November 2021By Yvonne

Petane Puriri Block Sfumato Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 ($70) Pronounced ‘ss-foo-mah-toh’, the name of this new wine from WineFriend favourites Petane Wines, is named after a painting technique describing softening the transition between colours. But you knew that right? Art nerds will also understand that it mimics an area beyond what the human eye is … Read More

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020

15 November 2021By Yvonne

Coopers Creek SV Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 $24 Absolute classic Hawke’s Bay viognier here from a West Auckland icon. Bright apricot, orange zest and jasmine aromatics all saturate through to the palate and its solid acidity (hard to achieve in viognier) leaves an impressively zingy impression. Great stuff! Cellar door only 

Kelly Washington Marlborough Chardonnay 2020

14 November 2021By Yvonne

Kelly Washington Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 $50 Organically grown in the Rapaura sub-region, and shepherded into the bottle by star winemaker Tamra Kelly, this chardonnay has a soft, nougat-like nose surrounded by peachy complexity, creamy, nutty notes, grapefruity goodness and fresh, feisty acidity. Kelly Washington Wines

Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021

14 November 2021By Yvonne

Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $20 Imagine flinging some basil, lime zest, peapods, passionfruit pulp, lemongrass and tomato leaves into the kitchen whizz, blitzing it all up and slathering it all over your visage like a citrusy, herbaceous beauty mask. It’ll lift the jowels, close the pores, tighten the cheeks, and elevate the eyebrows … Read More

Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

5 November 2021By Yvonne

Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $25 Crafted from fruit grown in their Corners, Orchard and Brookby Springs vineyards, this organic sauvignon blanc is all sorts of delicious. Plumped with punchy passionfruit, lemongrass, bruised basil and buckets of citrus, it’s intensely vibrant and bursting with fruit sweetness and crunchy acidity. Softly herbaceous and … Read More

Rock Ferry The Corners Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020

5 November 2021By Yvonne

Rock Ferry The Corners Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $30 If you thought all Marlborough sauvignon blanc was squint-inducingly acidic and packed with passionfruit, then wrap your tonsils around this organic example from Rock Ferry will rock you sideways. It’s softly-styled, showing lemon pith and lime blossom characters, peach and even a tweak of caramelisation … Read More

The Flying Winemaker Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2020

5 November 2021By Yvonne

The Flying Winemaker Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $20 Wairarapa sauvignon blanc is seriously underrated in my book. Its distinctive lemongrass, soft herb, citrus and sweetpea signature is evident in this example by winemaker Eddie McDougall. Juicy, plush and layered with lemon and apple characters, it’ll bring the grins. Gladstone Vineyard

Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021

5 November 2021By Yvonne

Rock Ferry 3rd Rock Marlborough Pinot Gris 2021 $27 Glossy and golden in the glass, scented with sea breeze, soft pear and quince-peel characters and awash with crisp acidity, lipsmackingly dry, mineral-edged textures and stitched together with soothing salinity. While it’s dry to finish, it’s also generously proportioned in the mid-palate, creating a complex, certified … Read More

Mud House Woolshed Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021

4 November 2021By Yvonne

Mud House Woolshed Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $22.99 Classic mouthfilling sauvignon here, loaded with lemon, lime, soft green herbs, peach and passionfruit, it’s that style that’ll absolutely please the crowds and deliver fruit-induced smiles until the bottle’s gone. Crunchy-fresh and beautifully balanced, it has mid-palate power and flavours that linger long. Nicely made indeed. … Read More

Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2020

4 November 2021By Yvonne

Two Rivers Clos Des Pierres Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 $30 Made by Dave Clouston, this unique take on chardonnay was hand-harvested, aged for approximately a year in a combo of  a large, 4500 ltr French oak fudre and a concrete egg with a 100% malolactic ferment before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Hence why this feijoa … Read More