Aeronaut Marlborough Chardonnay 2022 $30 Fans of almond meal and delicate coconut complexity in their chardonnay will find themselves enjoying this new release from winemaker Leo Ricárdez. Fresh and layered with lemon and green apple, hints of baked stonefruit and toasty oak – it’s a smashable chardonnay that’ll soften into a more creamy spectrum over … Read More
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Moko Hills Kakano Bendigo Chardonnay 2022
Moko Hills Kakano Bendigo Chardonnay 2022 $40 Subtle use of oak has created purity and wholesomeness in this new chardonnay from Donald van der Westhuizen. There’s a soft, creamy, bruleeish aroma on the nose followed by masses of white peach, florals, grapefruit pith, soft spices and nutty notes. It’s got such beautiful balance it could … Read More
Zephyr MKIII Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Zephyr MKIII Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $32 I was fortunate to taste bottle number 1942 of a wine crafted from the Glover Family’s ‘Kersley Estate’ vineyard. This vineyard is in the middle of its conversion to organic certification and winemaker Ben Glover has steered this sauvignon down the wild side of town. Erupting with scorched … Read More
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Zephyr Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $24 Roaring with red apple, red capsicum, sweet pea and peachy character, this citrus-stacked sauvignon has gentle herbaceousness, soft acidity, tropical complexity and a lick of salted lime and jalapeno on the finish. Sourced from the Glover family’s ‘Brawn’ vineyard located in the Dillons Point sub-region, it’s a gently … Read More
Chateau Garage Orca Corca Bianco 2023
Chateau Garage Orca Corca Bianco 2023 $35 A brand new style from viticulturist-turned-winemaker Ollie Powrie and his tiny team at Chateau Garage, the Orca Corca is sauvignon blanc but not as you’d know it. Sourced from an organic site located out in Maraekakaho, west of Hastings, the fruit was hand harvested and the juice was … Read More
Villa Maria Taylors Pass Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Villa Maria Taylors Pass Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $30 Awatere Valley sauvignon blanc has its own signature. Florals, fresh nettles, white peach, green apple and bruised basil assail the nostrils and roar around the gums. It’s fresh yet gentle on the palate, so if you’re not a fan of squinty acidity then you’re in luck … Read More
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Alana Estate Freedom Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $18 Intensely pungent aromas of bruised basil, sweet pea, passionfruit and lime leaf layers merge with seductively squint-inducing textures, and deep citrus and lemongrass notes which stitch together to create a crunchy-crisp, flavour bomb of a sauvignon. The Alana Estate whanau are hellbent on fighting against modern slavery … Read More
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023
Carrick Billet-Doux Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2023 $39 This no-sulphur, now-iconic style from Rosie Menzies and her team at Carrick has a new poem on the back label from front-label artist Leon Ofsky, and it speaks of new dawns, welcoming a new baby and new stories. Very appropriate. The wine is an unfussy, earth-laced style that’s … Read More
Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Blanc 2023
Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Blanc 2023 $42 Just the 4th time a pinot blanc has made it into the bottle from the kids at Carrick, yet it tastes like they’ve been doing it for decades. Scented with clean apple and white peach punchiness yet showing pip-fruit fullness in the mouth from its wild fermentation and … Read More
The Supernatural Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022
The Supernatural Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $35 A sauvignon that’s very much in its own situation with classic Hawke’s Bay generosity and softness. Yet the addition of six hours on skins, wild fermentation, lees stirring and only a teensy dose of sulphur at bottling has given it a creamy complexity that leads from apple … Read More