Zephyr Organic Marlborough Chardonnay 2022 $32 I’m loving the smorgasbord of aromas that leap nostrilward from the glass whenever I pour this new chardonnay from winemaker Ben Glover. Butter and spice-drizzled popcorn sprinkled atop grapefruit and peach sorbet and served inside an oak bowl. And all that good stuff saturates through to the palate and … Read More
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Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $23 A classically punchy sauvignon from one of Marlborough’s much-loved producers. Founded in 1994 by Greg and Sue White, Whitehaven is known for its ability to turn out sauvignon with flavour intensity and personality year after year. Crunchy lemon and lime layers wrap around passionfruit, jalapeno and bruised basil to … Read More
Munros Road Clevedon Arneis 2022
Munros Road Clevedon Arneis 2022 $27 Fans of crispy, dry whites ahoy! From the folk at Clevedon Vineyard located on the slopes of Clevedon Valley comes this rather smashable sip for the summer. And here’s an extra for experts. Did you know that Clevedon Vineyard was the very first place to grow Arneis, an Italian … Read More
Omata Estate Russell Chardonnay 2022
Omata Estate Russell Chardonnay 2022 $48 Gorgeously golden in the glass, this Bay of Islands-grown chardonnay gushes with creamy-dreamy cashew, grilled grapefruit, baked peach and popcorn aromas which all osmose across to the palate. Buttery and softly smoky, it’s a generously juicy style with hints of bacon to finish. Lovers of classic, creamy, bold chardonnay … Read More
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2023
Jules Taylor Marlborough Grüner Veltliner 2023 $24 Paired with: Figs, Endive & Hazelnuts in the NZ Herald Canvas Magazine Sat March 2 2024 The combination of subtle sweetness of ripe, juicy figs, moreishly toasty hazelnuts and the crispy, bitter, crunch of the endive leaves is all sorts of excellence in the mouth, but take a … Read More
Whitehaven Block 11 Barrel Fermented Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Whitehaven Block 11 Barrel Fermented Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $32 How excellent that the team at Whitehaven have chosen to launch their new Single Vineyard series with the release of a shiny new barrel-fermented sauvignon blanc. Fruit from their Paul’s Road vineyard has been wild fermented and aged for 13 months in old French Oak … Read More
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021 $32 I’m telling you right now, the vertigo-inducingly steep, sun-baked slopes of the zero-humidity sub-region of Bendigo is my new chardonnay spot to watch. While Tim Kerruish, his wife Nikki and their Folding Hill team are new to chardonnay, (their first vintage was the 2020) this second vintage … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Puketapu Chardonnay 2022
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay Puketapu 2022 $35 Sourced from the Puketapu (sacred hill) subregion of Hawke’s Bay inland west of Napier, winemaker Guillaume Thomas has opted to create a creamy, barrel-fermented, 12-month barrel-aged style that will please anyone partial to a twang of buttered toast in their glass. Grilled stonefruit, a splash of creamed … Read More
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2023
Maison Noire Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2023 $24 It’d make perfect sense for Chenin Blanc to be Guillaume Thomas’ favourite white wine seeing as its a signature grape of the Loire and Guillaume also happens to be a signature child of the same place. Contrary to much of the chenin grown in New Zealand (and … Read More
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2022
Tony Bish Fat & Sassy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2022 $22 Pronounced nectarine and lemon notes on the nose lead to a palate awash with stonefruit and preserved lemon layers wrapped around a sawdusty, toasty core. If ‘fatness’ to you means ‘creaminess’ then that’s not what you’ll receive, but if you’re a fan of toasty, spicy … Read More