MKIV Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $23 (tbc) This export-only sauvignon is the little brother to the much bolder and much brasher MKIII. It’s like a lovely second child, a more quirky, worldlier, row-my-own-boat little brother. Worldlier in that it decided to ditch New Zealand and sail to the UK where it’s used its charming fennel, … Read More
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144 Islands Northland Chardonnay 2018
144 Islands Northland Chardonnay 2018 $28 Northland has a knack for turning out chardonnay with richness and tantalising creamy textures, and under the watchful eye of Jake Dromgool, one of New Zealand’s star young viticulturists (he’s been on TV and everything!), it takes on extra personality. The roast peach and mango are edged with grapefruity … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2020
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Arneis 2020 $22 Guillaume Thomas has been crafting some of the best local Arneis I’ve ever tasted, and clearly this Italian variety (nicknamed Little Rascal due to its fussy, tricky nature) thrives in the lime and clay soils of his tiny vineyard on the Waimarama Road. Crammed with creamy nectarine, peach … Read More
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Gris 2018
Drummond Farm Martinborough Pinot Gris 2018 $24 Alex Muir and Leah Creaven are the forces behind Martinborough’s newest splash in the wine pond and they’re determined to educate people that it’s what’s NOT in the bottle that makes it distinctive. Produced at a positively demure 9.5% alcohol and showing clean, lightly-styled, apple and greengage plum … Read More
Drummond Farm Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Drummond Farm Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $20.40 I tasted this wine as a cleanskin sample and it was a roasty, toasty example packed solid with stonefruit tones and showing a creamy complexity on the finish. Punchy and slightly wild at heart, its a ripe, rumpty style that has loads of potential. Very food-friendly too. Soft … Read More
Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 $31.99 This bright like a yellow diamond 2019 release is one that any chardonnay fan will enjoy I’m sure. That’s because it’s just darn yummy, beautifully balanced, fat and juicy, with a bit of smokiness, ripe grapefruit flavours and buckets of baked nectarine and creamy, crushed almond, characters. There’s a lovely … Read More
Paulownia Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2015
Paulownia Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2015 $20 Fans of riesling that rolls on the dry side of the disco floor need to hurtle on over to the glass cabinet and pour themselves a splash of this asap. With classic lime and creamed honey notes on the nose, on the palate it becomes lovely and lean and … Read More
Paulownia Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2016
Paulownia Estate Wairarapa Riesling 2016 $20 It’s a smash-up of citrus and beeswax and ripe limes drizzled with honey and mandarin juice and how good does that sound! Probably as good as it tastes. Four years on and it’s really beginning to come into its own with a full, creamy character in the mid-palate and … Read More
Byrne Estate South Australia Chardonnay 2019
Byrne Estate South Australia Chardonnay 2019 $19.99 Lifted and lemony and prickled with grapefruit pith creaminess and a touch of almond makes for a juicy, peachy little bundle of yum in this snazzy example from South Australia. A touch of ripe apple and rockmelon rounds out the palate nicely and ensures a complex, multi-layered finish. … Read More
OTU Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020
OTU Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 $18 Aromas of lime, lemon and soft passionfruit and ripe peachy flavours abound in this wine. It’s a lighter-styled, uncomplicated style that will reward any sauvignon fan who’s after a cleansing, quaffable sip. Refreshing tangy and taut. For stockists visit http://www.otuwine.com