Posted: December 10, 2019
Highly aromatic and intensely varietal, this is a pungent, very fresh, crisp and lively wine, with incisive passionfruit and green capsicum flavours, tangy, dry and lingering. (From Staete Landt). $18
Comments Off on Map Maker Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very fresh and lively wine is medium-bodied, with a punchy, aromatic bouquet. Strongly varietal, it is crisp and tangy, with very good vigour and depth of passionfruit, lime and green capsicum flavours. Priced sharply. $18 (A)
Comments Off on Haha Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Priced sharply, this bright ruby, softly mouthfilling red is savoury and sweet-fruited, with cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing considerable complexity, and a smooth finish. Drink now-2021. $20
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A drink-young charmer, this single-vineyard red was matured for seven months in French and American oak casks. Bright ruby, it is floral and supple, in a medium-bodied style with ripe, plummy, distinctly spicy flavours, a touch of complexity and gentle…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
An attractive, drink-young style, this medium-bodied red is vibrant and supple, with youthful, plummy, spicy flavours, fresh acidity and gentle tannins. Best drinking 2021+. $20
Comments Off on Babich Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This highly approachable red is bright ruby, fresh and smooth. Medium to full-bodied, it has plenty of ripe, plummy, peppery flavour, some savoury notes adding a touch of complexity, and a well-rounded finish. $20
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Enjoyable young, but still unfolding, this is a fresh, medium-bodied red, deep ruby, with a spicy, slightly earthy bouquet. Strongly varietal, it has good depth of plummy, spicy flavours, slightly savoury notes and a long, peppery finish. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Bargain-priced, this fragrant, full-bodied red includes minor portions of merlot (8%), malbec (4%) and cabernet franc (2%). Full-coloured, with a plummy, spicy bouquet, it is youthful, with concentrated plum and black pepper flavours and a fairly firm, long finish. Best…
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This bargain-priced red was partly (20%) barrel-aged for 18 months. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with fresh, berryish, slightly herbal and spicy flavours, showing good depth. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Certified organic, this ruby-hued red is medium-bodied, with berryish, slightly spicy flavours, showing a touch of complexity, and a fresh, smooth finish. $16
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Enjoyable young, this full-coloured, mouthfilling red is vibrantly fruity, with good depth of plummy, slightly spicy flavours, fresh and smooth. $16
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very easy-drinking red is full-coloured and mouthfilling, with fresh, vibrant, berryish, spicy flavours, gentle tannins and a smooth finish. It’s not a complex style, but enjoyable young and priced right. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This sharply priced red is based on merlot (77%) and cabernet sauvignon (19%), with splashes of malbec and cabernet franc. Full-coloured, with a fragrant, slightly herbal bouquet, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, berryish, slightly spicy and herbal flavours,…
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Deeply coloured, with a fresh, slightly herbal bouquet, this blend of merlot (54%), cabernet sauvignon (33%) and cabernet franc (13%) spent a year in French oak (30% new). Mouthfilling, it is vibrantly fruity and supple, with generous blackcurrant, plum, herb…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Full-coloured and mouthfilling, this fresh, vibrant red has good depth of berryish, slightly spicy flavours, savoury, nutty notes adding complexity and a smooth finish. Best drinking mid-2020+. $20
Comments Off on Babich Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This elegant, fruit-packed red is a 2:1 blend of merlot and cabernet sauvignon, matured for 18 months in French barriques (20% new). Fragrant and full-coloured, it has very good body and depth of fresh, plummy, spicy flavours. Best drinking 2021+….
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This bright pink, very pale red rosé was made from red-wine varieties. Very fresh and lively, it has good depth of vibrant strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, slightly peachy notes, and a finely balanced, dryish finish. Good value. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Merlot-based, this bright pink, slightly orange wine is fresh and lively, with strong, peachy, strawberryish flavours, hints of watermelon and spice, finely balanced acidity and a dryish finish. Ready; no rush. $16
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Bright, pale pink, this merlot-based rosé is fragrant and vibrantly fruity, in a medium-bodied style with very good depth of fresh strawberry and spice flavours, a hint of peaches, and a smooth, dry finish. Good drinking for the summer of…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still very youthful, this wine was made from botrytis-affected riesling grapes. Bright, light yellow/green, it is fresh, lively and crisp, with citrusy, slightly spicy flavours, a hint of apricot and good sugar/acid balance. Best drinking 2021+. $16 (375ml)
Comments Off on Mission Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Weighty and sweet-fruited, this youthful, partly (20%) barrel-fermented wine offers good value. Fresh, full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, it has stonefruit flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, and a dry, well-rounded, lingering finish. $19
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still youthful, this great value wine is bright, light lemon/green, with a scented bouquet and emerging, toasty, bottle-aged aromas. Medium-bodied, it has strong, crisp, citrusy, limey flavours and an off-dry, tangy finish. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Riesling 2016 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Enjoyable young, this Hawke’s Bay wine has a very pale straw colour. Mouthfilling, it is fresh and slightly creamy, with peachy, strongly spicy flavours, showing good depth, and a dryish finish. $13
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Drinking well now, this full-bodied wine is still very lively, with fresh peach and pear-like flavours, slightly spicy notes, a vague suggestion of sweetness, balanced acidity and good depth. $20
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Aromatic and finely balanced, this fresh and lively wine is vibrantly fruity, with very good depth of pear and spice flavours and an off-dry finish. Offering very easy drinking, it should be at its best from mid-2020+. $19 (A)
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Priced sharply, this attractively scented, mouthfilling wine has good depth of vibrant peach, pear and lychee flavours, hints of spices and ginger, gentle acidity and a dry, harmonious finish. $16
Comments Off on Falconhead Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This characterful, single-vineyard wine was grown at Mangatahi. Fragrant and full-bodied, it is pale gold, with generous, peachy, slightly spicy, vaguely honeyed flavours, showing a touch of complexity, and very good depth. $20
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Showing strong personality, this finely poised wine was partly barrel-fermented. Invitingly scented, it is full-bodied, with strong, vibrant, pear-like flavours, hints of lychees and spices, a touch of complexity, balanced acidity and a dryish, lingering finish. Enjoyable from the start,…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Already very open and expressive, this modestly priced Hawke’s Bay wine has a spicy, vaguely honeyed bouquet, leading into a mouthfilling, exuberantly fruity wine with lots of peachy, spicy flavour. Drink now-2020. $13
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Offering good value, this invitingly perfumed wine is fresh and full-bodied, with strong, peachy, spicy, slightly gingery flavours, an oily texture and an off-dry finish. Drink now or cellar. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Barrel-fermented, this is a finely balanced wine with ripe, tropical fruit aromas. Medium-bodied, it is sweet-fruited and vibrantly fruity, with fresh acidity, a touch of complexity and very good flavour depth. $18
Comments Off on Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This weighty, full-bodied wine has strong, passionfruit and pineapple aromas and flavours. Generous, with a dry finish, it’s a distinctly non-herbaceous style, fresh, generous and dry, in the ripe, rounded style typical of Hawke’s Bay. $20
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Enjoyable young, this partly barrel-fermented wine is fresh, vibrant and full-bodied, with peachy, slightly toasty flavours, showing a touch of complexity, balanced acidity, and a slightly creamy finish. $20
Comments Off on Ngatarawa Stables Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Lemon-scented, this vibrantly fruity wine was estate-grown in the Rifleman’s Vineyard and fermented ‘with’ French oak. Pale lemon/green, it is citrusy and peachy, with fresh acidity, moderate complexity and good, drink-young appeal. $17 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Briefly oak-aged, this is a medium-bodied wine with good depth of peachy, slightly toasty and buttery flavours, fresh acidity and a smooth finish. $19
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Full of drink-young charm, this mouthfilling, vibrantly fruity wine has crisp, citrusy, peachy flavours, slightly toasty notes adding complexity, and good depth. Priced sharply. $16
Comments Off on Mission Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Fragrant and fleshy, this wine is already drinking well. Bright, light yellow/green, it has generous, ripe, peachy, slightly toasty flavours (from 10 months in French oak, 10% new), with finely balanced acidity and lots of drink-young appeal. $19
Comments Off on Mills Reef Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Drinking well already, this fresh, full-bodied wine is vibrantly fruity, with ripe, stonefruit flavours to the fore, good mouthfeel and texture, and a rounded finish. $20 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Babich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Already drinking well, this full-bodied wine has strong, ripe stonefruit flavours to the fore, with slightly smoky and toasty notes adding a distinct touch of complexity, fresh acidity and a dry, finely balanced finish. Best drinking 2021+. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Partly barrel-fermented, this wine is priced sharply. Mouthfilling, with generous, stonefruit flavours to the fore, slightly spicy and smoky notes adding complexity, and a fresh, finely balanced finish, it should be at its best 2021+. $20
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
How’s this for a great buy? Fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (15% new), it is full-bodied, with a slightly smoky fragrance and generous, peachy, citrusy, slightly toasty flavours, showing excellent freshness, delicacy, complexity and harmony….
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Herbaceous characters dominate the nose with good length of citrus flavours and hints of grassiness.
Comments Off on Choosy Beggar Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Reserved aromas with a lift of lime. Fleshy and slightly sweet on the palate.
Comments Off on Rapaura Springs Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A complex riper style with slightly candied toasty melon fragrances and a flavoursome complexity of toasty, oaky and sweet fruit characters on the rounded palate.
Comments Off on Te Henga Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Honeyed apricot bouquet and a warm complexity of candied fruit flavours on a long lingering palate.
Comments Off on Land of Giants Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Simple steely gooseberry bouquet with herbal notes and good varietal fruit flavours with a tangy finish.
Comments Off on Cradle Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Nice tropical lift to the nose and a fresh palate with good weight of fruit.
Comments Off on Counting Sheep Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Another older style of sauvignon blanc. Quite sweet and creamy in the mouth.
Comments Off on Cloud Farmer Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Grapefruit-like citrus aromas and lightweight palate with a combination of grassy and citrus flavours.
Comments Off on Whispers South Eastern Australia Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A pungent complexity of tropical fruit characters on the sweet side. Drink soon.
Comments Off on Tumu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019