Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $23 Certified organic and seriously smashable, this shiny new release from the Glover Family of the Dillons Point subregion, is a lipsmackingly lush, lemongrassy lovely that pings around the palate with basil, tomato leaf, red capsicum and a squeak of sexy, salty, upper-lip sweat. The acidity is zesty and … Read More
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Wairiki The Matriarch Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020
Wairiki The Matriarch Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 $29 A rather sexy chardonnay from possibly the newest and tiniest winery you’ve never heard of. Scented with creme caramel, soft peach, almond and grapefruit pith, the palate is fresh, soothing and edged with citrus. Grown high on the ancient, free-draining Ngaruroro River terraces, west of Hastings, this … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Ash Ridge Premium Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $29 375ml It’s not a common thing finding a dessert-style chardonnay, but Lauren Swift and her team at Ash Ridge seem to be able to regularly turn out sweet, sticky superstar examples on the regular. Scented with grilled pineapple, roast peach, lemon meringue and marmalade all … Read More
Ash Ridge Alti Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020
Ash Ridge Alti Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020 $29 There’s very little of this bony-dry, funky, mineral-heavy Pinot Gris left, so if you’re a fan of natural, skinsy, quartzy styles then this needs to be on your shopping list. Alti in that its made in an alternative style to conventional Pinot Gris and it’ll definitely … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 $32 Very, very toasty with hints of sawdust and spice: the caramelised characters in this Lauren Swift-crafted wine will definitely appeal to those who love old-school roastiness and nutty, creamy layers in their chardonnay. That was a long sentence — almost as long as the finish on this … Read More
Tupari Boulder Rows Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Tupari Boulder Rows Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $29.99 Classic floral, Awatere Valley sauvignon blanc here, a hint of barrel fermentation adds creamy complexity to a vein of lemongrass, basil, tomato stalk and sweet pea and passionfruit – it’s a stunning style loaded with sweet herbaceousness and delicious length of flavour. http://www.tupari.co.nz
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2005
Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2005 $na I tasted this wine 16 years after harvest, in 2021 and I’ve got to say it was a revelation. With the acidity still pinging in this ultra-golden, teenage sensation, the spices are zooming along the vanilla, nutmeg and apple strudel spectrum and it’s developing some delicious, nutty … Read More
Yealands State of Flux Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Yealands State of Flux Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 $39.99 Soft citrus and soft peach and a hint of preserved lemon is what you can expect on the nose and the palate is creamy and shows tweaks of ground almond and melon. Fermented in Yealands concrete eggs, which some winemakers believe creates a more gentle environment for … Read More
The Hunting Lodge Home Block Waimauku Sauvignon Blanc 2019
The Hunting Lodge Home Block Waimauku Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $30 If you’re beady of eye and brainy of brain, you’ll notice that the Sauvignon Blanc grapes for this wine come from a site that began being planted back in 1979. So there could very well be wine from some of the oldest Sauvignon Blanc vines … Read More
Junction Corner Post Central Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Junction Corner Post Central Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $29 Absolutely erupting with mango, scorched peach, grilled grapefruit and roasted almond notes, this smasher of a chardonnay comes from the Takapau Plains and trucks across the palate like a tropical train. It’s nicely balanced, with fresh acidity, mouth filling weight and solid stone fruit saturation on … Read More