Amisfield Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $25 The second I see ‘tomato’ and ‘capsicum’ in the ingredients for anything, I’m instantly reaching for a wine like the Amisfield Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018 ($25). Incredibly pungent aromas of lime, lemon, passionfruit, bruised basil and buckets of homemade lemonade loveliness all wash through onto the palate … Read More
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Mahi Marlborough Chardonnay 2017
Mahi Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 $29 Blended from four vineyards from the western end of the Wairau Valley after a long, dry summer, the Mahi Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 ($29) is a funk-laced, stonefruit-soaked, toasty, smoky sip. Crafted using only free-run juice and left to ferment wild, with no additions, before maturing in barrel for 11 months, … Read More
Petane Station Hau Hau Block Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Petane Station Hau Hau Block Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $27 This tiny estate located out Eskdale-way, manages to turn out pinot gris that’s consistently mammoth in the personality-stakes. With its new vintage offering a creamy, apple pie and cashew character on the nose, followed by a poached quince and roast pear punch on the … Read More
Torlesse Waipara Riesling 2016
Torlesse Waipara Riesling 2016 $20 I was really hoping for better with this riesling, having had some lovely experiences with previous vintages. However there’s something slightly soapy and flat on the nose of the 2016, and on the palate it lacks freshness and a sense of clean fruit. It’s unfortunately a little murky on the … Read More
Greywacke Late Harvest Marlborough Riesling 2011
Greywacke Late Harvest Marlborough Riesling 2011 $38 Holy toffee apples, Batman! Carefully crafted by the legendary Kevin Judd, this little bottle of liquid indulgence has all the wicked sweetness of a sneaky dollar lolly mixture stashed under your pillow to nibble on when your mum’s not looking. Hints of beeswax and spice on the nose … Read More
Coal Pit Proprietor’s Reserve Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018
Coal Pit Proprietor’s Reserve Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018 $40 Aromas of smoked lemongrass, bruised basil, lime and a pinch of passionfruit lead to copycat flavours on the palate. Flavours accentuated by layers of creamy, smoky complexity from a wild ferment in 30% new French oak. It’s a flavoursome and new take on southern sauvignon … Read More
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018
Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018 $22 High up on the Tuki Tuki terraces overlooking the river valley of the same name lies Kathryn and John Laughlin’s viognier vineyard. In addition to being a rather lovely thing to look at, it’s a spot that produces knee-slappingly lovely things to sip on. This new vintage hits that … Read More
Squawking Magpie The Chatterer Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018
Squawking Magpie The Chatterer Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 $19.95 This is one of my sure-fire, never-fail, no-hold-barred, people pleasing pinot gris choices. There’s a ripeness and robustness in the Squawking Magpie style that promotes a pear, quince and quick-fix of spiced apple awesome into every sip. It’s crisp, clean, cranking with honeysuckle and heaving … Read More
Te Aro Wine Co Toil and Trouble Hawke’s Bay Pét Nat 2018
Te Aro Wine Co Toil and Trouble Hawke’s Bay Pét Nat 2018 $27.50 Created by Jules Van Costello (owner of Cult Wines and Te Aro Wines) from sauvignon blanc sourced from the Bridge Pa sub-region (with a teensy splash of Marlborough sauvignon blanc to kickstart the ferment, this is a hyper fizzy, crown-sealed firecracker to … Read More
Silver Wing Preservative Free Waipara Sauvignon Semillon 2018
Silver Wing Preservative Free Waipara Sauvignon Semillon 2018 $30 Crafted from a blend of 90% sauvignon blanc and 10% semillon from winemaker Andrew Fox’s Stephenson’s Block that’d been soaked overnight on its skins, this wine was fermented in a 675 litre ceramic egg and matured for 4 months on its yeast lees without batonnage (stirring … Read More