Swift Wines Bridge Pa Triangle Chardonnay 2020 $35 I could tell you all the technical wizardry involved in creating this organically grown chardonnay, but that might be a distraction to its deliciousness and that wouldn’t do at all. Erupting with ripe grapefruit, roast nectarine and creme brulee topping, caramelised, softly smoky spicy oak and incredibly … Read More
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te Pā Oke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
te Pā Oke Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $24.95 Once every few years, when the positive chi flows from the East and the sauvignon gods of the South smile fondly on the vines, the folk at te Pā might, if we’re lucky, decide to create an ‘Oke’. Pronounced ‘aw-keh’, oke in te reo Māori translates to … Read More
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $20 Out west of Hastings in a place called Matapiro, high up on the terraces of the Ngaruroro River, some of Hawke’s Bays best sauvignon blanc is being grown. In the rain shadow of the Ruahine range, with roots thriving in the deep, ancient river gravels, the vines that … Read More
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2021
Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2021 $24.99 With pear, poached quince and roast peach characters on the nose lead to a softly spiced palate with gentle acidity and a long, creamy finish, it’s a good little sip-in-the-sunshine gris. Don’t over-chill it (that’ll mask the all-important florals and fruit). Nicely made. Monowai Estate
Blackenbrook Family Reserve Nelson Gewürztraminer 2019
Blackenbrook Family Reserve Nelson Gewürztraminer 2019 $30 The thing I love about this wine is its cool, calm mood. Unlike a lot of gewürztraminer styles that are all jazz hands and stage voice, brash, blousy and wearing way too much perfume. This new release rolls out subtle ginger, rosewater and musky spices on the nose … Read More
Monowai Upper Reaches Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Monowai Upper Reaches Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $35 Aromas of baked peach, cashew butter and creme caramel collide with slightly scorched toast, a lick of grapefruit, pineapple and layers of butterscotch complexity. It’s a refreshingly silky thing to sip, with nicely balanced acidity and alcohol and a long, creamy, classic finish. Round, ripe and soothing … Read More
Pikes The Merle Clare Valley Riesling 2018
Pikes The Merle Clare Valley Riesling 2018 $39.99 Wow – this iconic South Australian riesling is whipcrack dry, snappy, crunchy and loaded with lime on the nose and palate. Laced with green apple and masses of crushed shell minerality, it’s a style that Pikes have perfected to the point that this is now one of … Read More
Nivarius Rioja Tempranillo Blanco 2019
Nivarius Rioja Tempranillo Blanco 2019 $22.99 Nivarius is the only winery in the Rioja that focuses on white wines crafted from indigenous varieties and that’s a great thing because I sure as heck haven’t tasted much in the way of tempranillo blanco and this is really exciting. Loaded with green apple, quartzy minerality, white pepper … Read More
Martin Codax Mara Martin Monterrei DO Godello 2019
Martin Codax Mara Martin Monterrei DO Godello 2019 $25 How cool is the name ‘Codax’? It’s like something an evil villain in one of the Die Hard movies would be called. Or the name of a secret agent who also happens to be a highly intelligent German shepherd, deep undercover as the household pet of … Read More
Rapaura Springs Rohe Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Rapaura Springs Rohe Dillons Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 $27.90 This bottle should carry a ‘Wear a Helmet’ warning because by jingoes, the second you unclick the cap and pour this wine into your glass, a passionfruit-pumped roundhouse kick of Kill Bill proportions will collide with your face. Big call, but I think this could … Read More