Brightwater Gravels Nelson Pinot Gris 2019

18 June 2020By Yvonne

Brightwater Gravels Nelson Pinot Gris 2019 $18 Nelson is well and truly living up to it’s name as the aromatics capital of the country with this crisp little pony of a pinot gris.  Pear-packed and backed up with apple and nashi niceness, it’s got ‘crowd pleaser’ ,’spring wedding’ and ‘classy-if-there-is-such-a-thing 21st birthday party’ written all … Read More

McArthur Ridge Falls Dam Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019

18 June 2020By Yvonne

McArthur Ridge Falls Dam Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019 $20 Classic Central Otago pinot gris here folks, all zesty pear and apple, and it nicely nunchucks you around the face with nashi pear, strudel spices, clean acidity and springy textures.  Lush, plush and perky to sip, it deserves to be chilled down and enjoyed with … Read More

Radburnd Cellars Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018

18 June 2020By Yvonne

Radburnd Cellars Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $85 Gorgeously golden in the glass, this debut chardonnay from legendary winemaker Kate Radburnd is crafted from old-vine, Mendoza-clone fruit sourced from two vineyards in two different sub-regions.  The Bridge Pa fruit adds weight and minerality, while the Mangatahi fruit injects classic stonefruit succulence and structure.  Handpicked, hand-sorted, whole-bunch … Read More

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Riesling 2016

17 June 2020By Yvonne

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Riesling 2016 $45 If you’re looking for a punch in the face of lime, lemongrass, crunchy apple and squint-inducing zestiness – then you’ve come to the right place. This 2016 St Andrews is incredibly dry and elegant and demonstrates an ultimately sophisticated riesling from old vines growing in one of … Read More

O:TU Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

16 June 2020By Yvonne

O:TU Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $19 Lovers of soft, creamy, peach-laced chardonnay will be all over this wine crafted by winemaker Jan Kux.  Smooth, soothing and saturated in tropical fruit, it’s an ultra-friendly, attractive little sip for sure. http://www.otuwine.com  

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2016

16 June 2020By Yvonne

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2016 $49.99 Whenever a new vintage of St Andrews chardonnay lands on our shores and zooms over to my office, the joy is electric.  Electric like a disco.  The kind of disco that John Travolta would go to.  That’s how boogie wonderland my mood becomes.  Super-juicy and packed solid … Read More

Bushmere Estate Classic Gisborne Chardonnay 2018

14 June 2020By Yvonne

Bushmere Estate Classic Gisborne Chardonnay 2018 $25 While this wine is super-creamy and nutty on the nose, there’s an explosion of grapefruit and toasted peaches as soon as you manage to get the glass into your gob, closely followed by a gurgle of lemon and a pinch of pineapple. David and Shona Egan have been … Read More

The Hunting Lodge Project X Chardy Jack Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019

14 June 2020By Yvonne

The Hunting Lodge Project X Chardy Jack Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $32 Ok.  Hands up who wouldn’t love to leap into a chardonnay fermented in bourbon barrels?  Bourbon barrel-aged wine is new to New Zealand, however, it’s a growing trend in the US, with Californian wineries leading the charge.  So the folk at the Hunting … Read More

Bristol Farm Nelson Chardonnay 2019

13 June 2020By Yvonne

Bristol Farm Nelson Chardonnay 2019 ($39) Winemaker Brendan Seal is best known for his Urbn Vino branded pinot noir wines which he makes at his inner-city winery in Dunedin.  His other, more under-the-radar label, is Bristol Farm.  Chardonnay is the first 2019 wine of his I’ve tasted (unlabelled sample) and it’s telling me that Nelson … Read More

Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Sauvignon Blanc 2019

12 June 2020By Yvonne

Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Sauvignon Blanc 2019 $23.99 I’m old enough to remember when a Gisborne sauvignon blanc won the championship sauvignon blanc trophy at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards – and that blew people’s minds!  This sauvignon blanc from the team at Matawhero brings back some of those memories of lemongrass, basil,  passionfruit,  … Read More