Eaton The Bench Blend Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $39.99 Sourced from Mike Eaton’s Thistle Hill and Saint Luke’s vineyards in the Awatere Valley and more southern Flaxbourne sub-regions, this sauvignon dances the Maxina around the mouth, tripping across lemongrass, watercress, white nectarine, and fresh-cut lawns of loveliness. Mike has created something incredibly fresh and complex … Read More
Archives
Eaton Thistle Hill Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Eaton Thistle Hill Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $64 The Thistle Hill Vineyard is owned by the Hickman family, who planted it on their ‘Taimate’ Angus stud farm, located a 30-minute drive south of Blenheim. Soon after planting, it became very clear that the farm’s sunbaked soils signified manna from heaven for sauvignon blanc. … Read More
Eaton Fortissimo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Eaton Fortissimo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $48 Google says ‘fortissimo’ means ‘loud,’ yet this sensational take on sauvignon by Mike Eaton is soft and quietly sexy. Marzipan and citrus marshmallow notes on the nose lead to delicious complexity from a full malolactic fermentation and extended aging in older Tonnellerie-Ermitage barrels. Unfined and unfiltered, it may … Read More
Eaton Flaxbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Eaton Flaxbourne Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $31-$48 Prepare for a hit of marzipan and preserved lemon on your lips as soon as you raise your glass facewards. Sourced from Mike Eaton’s Breezemere and Thistle Hill vineyards located in the Flaxbourne region of Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, this sauvignon also shows his signature pillowy, creamy texture and … Read More
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $22 While it says 75% of the juice was barrel fermented on the back label, this is not an overly smoky, funky style at all. In fact the barrel fermentation has accentuated the limey, mineral nature of the wine and created a ripe, yet very complex style that … Read More
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019 $29 Returning to his dry-style roots not seen since 2013, winemaker Gordon Russell has taken fruit for the first time from Ian and Linda Quinn’s Two Terraces Vineyard located west of Hastings in Maraekakaho where they grow two clones of chenin, 220 and 880. Handpicked, cooled … Read More
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2017
Ash Ridge Premium Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2017 $32 If you’ve been searching for a viognier that’s not a headrush of sweetness and oiliness and OTT everything, then here’s your wish granted. Grown in the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa sub-region of Hawke’s Bay, this viognier has subtle orange blossom aromatics, a soupçon of spice … Read More
Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019
Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019 $30 Reviewd for dish Magazine and paired with Prawn Chorizo Chilli Pasta Balance out all that powerful smoky spice of the chorizo and chilli with the gorgeous Zephyr Marlborough Riesling 2019 ($30) because it douses your tastebuds in refreshing apple, lime, honeysuckle and peach. It’s the perfect thing to cleanse, tone … Read More
Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019
Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 $34.99 Reviewed in dish Magazine July/Aug 2020 and paired with Salmon, smoked fish and fennel pie Chardonnay all day is what springs to mind when gathering all the components together for this perfect pie. The Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 ($34.99) is chock full of ripe, roasted stonefruit … Read More
Rogue Vine The Original Rogue Bay of Islands Pinot Gris 2019
Rogue Vine The Original Rogue Bay of Island Pinot Gris 2019 $25 Look closely at the wine in your glass and you’ll see it’s actually got a lick of pink to it. That’s because pinot gris grapes have a sort of pinky-grey colour and the good folk at Rogue have left the skins in contact … Read More