Rock Ferry Orchard Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2016

8 July 2018By Yvonne

Rock Ferry Orchard Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2016 $39 Here’s a certified organic blend of 75% pinot gris from Rock Ferry’s Winery Block & 25% pinot blanc from their Plum Tree Block, co-fermented on their skins with indigenous yeasts. After 30 days on skins, the wine was drained and pressed to 1 oak … Read More

Yvonne Lorkin canvas column for July 7th 2018

8 July 2018By Yvonne

Blended Families Pure breeds? Yeah nah. Sometimes a bit of mongrel is exactly what we need in a wine… Rockferry Orchard Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Gris Pinot Blanc 2016 $39 Here’s a certified organic blend of 75% pinot gris from Rockferry’s Winery Block & 25% pinot blanc from their Plum Tree Block, co-fermented on their skins … Read More

French Peak Canterbury Pinot Gris 2017

4 July 2018By Yvonne

French Peak Canterbury Pinot Gris 2017 $30 Golden in the glass and powdery complexity and quincey characters, fresh apple and intensely dry.  Edged with white pepper and minerally, licking wet stones texture to it.  Bracing and bouncy, but seriously dry – so it’ll appeal to those who like wines that rip across the gums and … Read More

Kuen Hof Kaiton Südtirol Eisacktaler Riesling 2016 $47 (4 stars)

1 July 2018By Yvonne

If you’re a fan of the aromatic, white-wine spectrum, then get your laughing gear around this ravishingly good riesling from the Pligers family at Kuen Hof estate. They’ve been producing wine since the 12th century in Eisacktal in Südtirol, Italy’s northernmost wine region. Kaiton is a celtic word for the area surrounding the estate, which … Read More

Giesen The Fuder Clayvin Marlborough Chardonnay 2014 $55.99

30 June 2018By Yvonne

If there’s such a thing as a taste orgasm then this incredible wine delivers them relentlessly. In multiples. Sipping it rendered me incapable of commanding the English language save for mumbling the occasional “oh wow” and “more please”. Sourced from Clayvin, one of the nation’s most famous vineyards, it bursts with grapefruit, ripe nectarine and … Read More

Terras Gauda Rías Baixas O Rosal 2016 $34.95 (4.5 stars)

23 June 2018By Yvonne

Made from a blend of albariño, caino and loureiro grapes, this kick-in-the-chops Spanish white made in the Rías Baixas (ree-ass bye-sass) tradition put me firmly in my happy place. I love the crash of lemon blossom, lime zest and white peach across the palate, the smash of rain-on-hot-rocks minerality and the gentle, tastebud exfoliating character … Read More

Mills Reef Bespoke Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $34.95

23 June 2018By Yvonne

Mills Reef Bespoke Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $34.95 I LOVE the burst of grilled grapefruit, poached peach, hints of struck match and tangy, smoky notes on the nose and a lovely complex, juicy, cashew and bacony loveliness.  Fresh and fabulously funky, it’s a lipsmackingly good example.  The team at Mills Reef are chardonnay nuts and it … Read More

Crossroads Milestone Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $17.50

21 June 2018By Yvonne

Crossroads Milestone Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 $17.50  A tangy, taut, trop-fest is about to hurl itself across your tastebuds.  Think pineapple, mango, a lick of lemon and a grapefruity kick brings the citrus into gear which holds all the flavours buoyant in the mouth.  A layer of toasted crumpet character indicates nicely managed oak … Read More

Tiki Estate Waipara Pinot Gris 2016

20 June 2018By Yvonne

Tiki Estate Waipara Pinot Gris 2016 $14.99 (2.5 stars) There’s a brisk burst of beeswax and manuka honey on the nose and palate indicating some botrytis infection in the wine, but that adds complexity to the wine.  Dry and spicy, it boasts the ususal suspects of pear and quince, but fails to deliver generosity in the … Read More