In a new move, the release of arguably one of New Zealand’s most aristocratic range of wines has taken on a new timeframe. Church Road TOM is a tribute to Tom McDonald (1907-1987), a visionary winemaker who devoted his life to producing outstanding wines at Church Road Winery (formerly known as McWilliams Wines) in Hawke’s … Read More
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Mahurangi River Winery Field of Grace Reserve Matakana Chardonnay 2014
Mahurangi River Winery Field of Grace Reserve Matakana Chardonnay 2014 $54 Incredibly glossy and golden when poured, this chardonnay from a tiny corner of Matakana is absolutely roaring into life after sitting quietly for a couple of years just building its confidence and character. Complex smoke and toast notes merge with roast stonefruit, lemon pith … Read More
Te Awanga Estate One Off Underground Organic Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Te Awanga Estate One Off Underground Organic Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $33 Grown out in the rocky soils of what the locals call ‘the RD9’ (or Maraekakaho to the townies), this organic chardonnay comes courtesy of the skilled winemaking wizardry of Rod McDonald. Wait. How rocky are the soils I hear you ask? Ok. So … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $25 With its nectarine and peachy creaminess and with cashew characters abound, this new chardonnay from Guillaume Thomas has got instant crowd-appeal. Richly structured, but showing fresh, frisky acidity, it’s a juicy, easy drink with solid stonefruit complexity on the mid-palate and finish. www.maisonnoire.nz
Main Divide North Canterbury Gewürztraminer 2018
Main Divide North Canterbury Gewürztraminer 2018 $20.99 This has got to be one of the best value gewürztraminers in the country. That Mat Donaldson and his team at Pegasus Bay are able to pack so many luxurious layers of flavour into one tiny bottle for twenty dollars (and often discounted to lesss) is absolutely beyond … Read More
Churton Marlborough Viognier 2016
Churton Marlborough Viognier 2016 $37 The thing that winemaker Sam Weaver absolutely nails with this wine, is the acidity. Viognier is notoriously difficult to achieve freshness and balance in, because its a grape that naturally wants to increase its sugar holdings during ripening and couldn’t give a fig about retaining acidity. So the trick is … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2018 ($29) Golden, glossy in the glass and heaving with crisp, lipsmacking acidity, toasted coconut and grapefruit characters alongside roasted apples and all manner of mineral-induced magic in the mouth. Chenin blanc hails from the Loire Valley in France (which is where its winemaker Guillaume Thomas is also from) … Read More
Mahi Single Vineyard Alchemy Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
Mahi Single Vineyard Alchemy Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $39.90 Hands up who loves their chardonnay to unleash smoke signals and roasty, toasty, nutty notes on the nose and palate? Well this new release from Brian Bicknell and his team at Mahi will have you reaching for superlatives in seconds flat. Using fruit sourced from a small … Read More
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018
Te Awanga Estate Mister Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $18 If you’re looking for a chardonnay boasting peachy punchiness, a lick of creaminess, a sprinkling of nuttiness and citrus all the way home, then you’ve come to the correct cul-de-sac. It’s fresh, feisty and has crowd appeal written all over it. With its whimsical label … Read More
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018
Matahiwi Holly South Series Wairarapa Chardonnay 2018 $33 While the team at Matahiwi have been turning out cracking chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay for years now, the Holly South Series is all about celebrating their southern roots. Grown in their ‘Home’ vineyard near the winery, just outside of Masterton, this chardonnay is richly structured, with punchy … Read More