Te Mania Nelson Riesling 2023 $22 Scented with crushed shells, lime zest and freshly-sliced Granny Smith apples, this Nelsonian riesling has squint-factor fifty when it comes to zesty acidity and that roars through to the citrus-stacked finish. Te Mania
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Known Unknown Puma Gisborne Pinot Gris 2024
Known Unknown Puma Gisborne Pinot Gris 2024 $25 Crafted from organic grapes grown in the Manutuke subregion of Gisborne, this pinot griz has rizz (as the kids would say). Roaring with musky, baked apple and nashi notes on the nose and palate, it’s a wine carrying classic Gisborne gris complexity, dryness and generosity. Spice-stacked and … Read More
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2023
Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 $42 One of my favourite chardonnay releases of the year, the Omaka Reserve is fermented entirely in American Oak and held on lees for at least 9 months to inject maximum creamy character into a bold and expressive wine. The grilled grapefruit and roasted peach notes really roar … Read More
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2020
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 28 Camp Block Marlborough Pinot Blanc 2020 $30 Sourced from fruit grown at the confluence of the Wairau and Waihopai Rivers in a spot named after its use as a Royal New Zealand Air Force camp in the Second World War, comes a bright, vibrantly floral, apple and lemon blossom stacked … Read More
Hawkesridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2023
Hawkesridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2023 $25 (not rated) While on the nose this wine has some apricot and jasmine promise, sadly the palate is out of balance, with a sweet-sour note and it finishes short. Not great. But 2023 was a very difficult cyclone vintage, so that could have been an issue.
Heaphy Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Heaphy Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $19 The pale, white-gold colour might lead you to assume this is going to be a light, frilly style, yet as soon as you sip you’ll be sucked deep into herbaceous depths of smoked red capsicum, bruised lemongrass, fresh basil and tomato stalk notes. It’s a complex and generous style … Read More
Elephant Hill Salomé Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021
Elephant Hill Salomé Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2021 $95 Crafted from a 100% handpicked blend of clone 15 and Mendoza fruit from their Sea (Te Awanga) and Earth (Bridge Pa Triangle) vineyards, this, their flagship chardonnay is a powerfully structured wine erupting with complex baked stonefruit and scorched citrus, layers of cleverly balanced, caramelised oak notes, … Read More
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023
Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $24 The Trinity Hill team overcame a tricky season, including a devastating cyclone (Gabrielle) to craft a pinot gris with energy and edginess. Generously textured and dry, it erupts with classic baked quince and cut nashi complexity and finishes with a vein of exotic spices. Trinity Hill
Petane Maraekakaho Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023
Petane Maraekakaho Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2023 $31 If you’re a fan of crispy-dry pinot gris sourced from a lovingly-tended organic vineyard grown in the shelter of the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges, then you’ve driven down the correct cul-de-sac my friend. Aromatically it sings with green apple, soft pear, a lick of lime, feijoa zest … Read More
Q Waitaki Valley Barrel Reserve Pinot Gris 2023
Q Waitaki Barrel Reserve Valley Pinot Gris 2023 $34 What a gris this turned out to be, with its apricot and quince paste perfume that merges with notes of Golden Delicious apple and scorched nashi to create rich, lengthy lusciousness on the palate. It’s energetic, exciting, a little raunchy, and a lot like a Guy … Read More