Posted: November 7, 2018
Delicious young, this dark, purple-flushed blend was matured for 20 months in oak barriques. Fragrant and full-bodied, it has generous, plummy flavours to the fore, hints of blackcurrants and spices, and a smooth finish. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot/ Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Still youthful, this single-vineyard red is deeply coloured, fragrant and full-bodied, with greater intensity that you’d expect in its price range. Packed with plummy, spicy fruit, it is moderately firm, with a long life ahead. $20
Comments Off on Delta Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Pale pink, this is a fragrant, off-dry style with vibrant strawberry and spice flavours, woven with fresh acidity. Lively, fruity and smooth, it offers very easy drinking. (From Villa Maria). $18
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Bright pink, this charming rosé has vibrant, strawberryish flavours, hints of spices and apricots, and good delicacy and depth. A dryish style, it’s finely poised and priced sharply. $16
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Invitingly scented, this wine is from an inland, elevated site at Crownthorpe. Already drinking well, it is medium-bodied, with vibrant, peachy, slightly spicy and honeyed flavours, a sliver of sweetness, and impressive vigour, varietal character and depth. $18
Comments Off on Monowai Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Fresh and lively, this is a medium-bodied wine from a cool, elevated site at Crownthorpe. Drinking well now, it has ripely herbaceous flavours, with hints of passionfruit and lime. $16
Comments Off on Monowai Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
This is a fresh, very ‘fruit-driven’ style, handled entirely in tanks. Medium to full-bodied, it has vibrant, peachy flavours, balanced acidity and lots of drink-young appeal. $20
Comments Off on Babich Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Offering good, easy drinking, this wine was mostly (60%) barrel-aged. Bright, light lemon/green, with a buttery bouquet, it is mouthfilling and smooth, with vibrant, peachy, slightly citrusy and toasty flavours, revealing very satisfying depth and immediacy. $18
Comments Off on Monowai Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Already drinking well, this full-bodied wine was fully barrel-fermented (mostly French, 17% new). Light lemon/green, it is sweet-fruited, with generous, peachy, slightly toasty flavours, showing good complexity. Best drinking mid-2019+. Great value. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
This is classier than most sub-$20 chardonnays. Light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with good intensity of grapefruit-like flavours, slightly smoky notes adding complexity, restrained oak, fresh acidity and a lingering finish. Far from the ‘big, fat and…
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Partly barrel-fermented, this wine is already drinking well. Light lemon/green, with a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with generous, vibrant, peachy flavours, a hint of butterscotch and good complexity. Fine value. $20
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A drink-young charmer, this is a medium-bodied blend with fullish colour and fresh, berryish flavours. Fruity and smooth, it’s a very easy-drinking style. Best 2019. $18
Comments Off on Waimea Cabernet Franc/ Nelson Syrah 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Still lively, this medium-bodied wine is crisp and ripely herbaceous, with tropical fruit flavours showing good depth. (From Waimea Estates). $15 (UK)
Comments Off on Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Ripely herbaceous, very youthful wine, pale lemon/green, with lively acidity and tropical fruit flavours to the fore, fresh and dry. Best drinking 2019+. (From Waimea Estates). $15 (UK)
Comments Off on Spinyback Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Offering easy summer drinking, this is an aromatic, medium-bodied, buoyantly fruity wine with an array of fruit flavours – citrus, apple, passionfruit – and a dryish finish. (From Waimea Estates). $15 (UK)
Comments Off on Spinyback Nelson Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Priced sharply, this is a pale, freshly aromatic wine. Medium-bodied, it is lively, with decent depth of ripely herbaceous flavours and lots of drink-young appeal. $14 (US)
Comments Off on Saveé Sea Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
This pale pink, gently aromatic wine was blended from pinot noir and pinot gris. Light to medium-bodied, it has fresh strawberry and spice flavours, with a hint of apricot and a dryish finish. (From Two Rivers). $18 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Rosé 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Drinking well now, this fragrant, light lemon/green wine has youthful pear and lychee flavours, finely balanced and showing very good depth. $18 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Waimea Nelson Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Invitingly scented, this bright, light, lemon/green wine is a slightly sweet style, with good depth of citrusy, gently spicy flavours, finely balanced for easy drinking. Good drinking this summer. (From Waimea Estates). $15 (UK)
Comments Off on Spinyback Nelson Riesling 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Instantly appealing, this is a freshly scented wine with mouthfilling body and good depth of pear, peach and spice flavours, dryish and lively. $18
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Freshly scented, this is a very easy-drinking, medium to full-bodied wine with dryish peach, pear and spice flavours, showing good delicacy and depth. $16 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Anna’s Way Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Drinking well now, this is a weighty, fleshy, light lemon/green wine, with good concentration of tropical fruit flavours and a dry finish. $18 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Waimea Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Delicious young, this bright, light yellow/green wine is a lush, medium-dry style. It has rich, citrusy, peachy, limey flavours, a hint of honey, and a fragrant bouquet. $18 (UK)
Comments Off on Waimea Nelson Riesling 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Offering very good value, this fresh, medium-bodied wine is crisp and vigorous, with strong, ripely herbaceous flavours that linger well. $16
Comments Off on Awatere River by Louis Vavasour Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Drinking well now, this pale, freshly scented, vibrantly fruity wine has good delicacy and drive, with clearly varietal flavours of pears and lychees, hints of peaches and spices, and a dryish finish. $19 (A, UK, UK)
Comments Off on Awatere River by Louis Vavasour Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A light and lifted style with spicy varietal fruit sitting in the herbaceous/nettle spectrum.
Comments Off on Yarran Riverina Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Herbaceous/green bean bouquet and fresh gooseberry palate with nice phenolic notes.
Comments Off on Wignalls Single Vineyard Albany Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Mandarin like citrus characters tend to dominate the nose and has a very pretty, very tropical palate with a spicy floral lift.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Organic Wines On the Grapevine Orange Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Light fragrances of melons and gooseberries with a fleshy ripe sweet fruit palate.
Comments Off on DiGiorgio Family Wines Lucindale Limestone Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Herbaceous green apple bouquet with a flavoursome palate of pretty lifted tropical fruits.
Comments Off on Semprevino McLaren Vale Pinot Grigio 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Lovely lift of pure lemon-like fragrances with delightful, delicate, floral/lavender nuances. The crisp dry palate is full of flavour with lovely green apple characters. 5+
Comments Off on Jacob’s Creek Classic Australia Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A simple wine but commercially appealing. Leafy dark berry fruit with the sweet oak kept in check.
Comments Off on Taylors Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A big old fashioned tarry style of shiraz with a huge jammy palate.
Comments Off on Shanahans The Old Dog Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A scented powder puff of a nose with slight hints of citrus. A simple palate – fresh and zesty with lemon curd flavours and soft, somewhat chalky, line of acid. 5+
Comments Off on Ryder Clare Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Nice aromatic mix of green peas and musk lollies with great tropical fruit on the mid palate.
Comments Off on Eradus Ana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Lifted perfumed bouquet and sweet tropical fruit palate with good backbone of acidity.
Comments Off on Thornbury Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Lychee and pineapples on the nose with a nice lift of herbaceous fruit. Palate is full of life with punchy pungent flavours, good phenolic integration and a pineapple finish.
Comments Off on Vidal Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Lively herbaceous bouquet with pungent notes and hints of citrus. Great acid drive to the palate with tight tropical tones.
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Aromas of kiwi fruit and apples with flavours more in the riper tropical spectrum. Citrussy finish.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Delicate floral aromas has a slight tropical thread and the palate shows a good lengthy varietal flavour profile.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Smells of fresh cut grass with dusty herbaceous notes and has a “playful” herbaceous palate with very supportive backbone of acid.
Comments Off on Franklin Tate Estates Alexanders Reserve Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
“Gleaming” tinned pea aromas and an herbaceous palate with a minerally acid line and slightly warming finish.
Comments Off on Miles from Nowhere Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Reserved nose of citrus fruits. Very fine pear-like flavour intensity with a lovely mineral character threaded through.
Comments Off on Vidal Estate Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Sweet and simple with fresh primary fruit characters of pears with a hint of citrus.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
A smart wine with perfumed lime and lemon aromas with ginger-like spiciness. Creamy palate with intense flavour profile of lemon, limes and a dash of orange peel. 5+
Comments Off on Thorn-Clarke Wines Sandpiper Eden Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Delightful fragrances of jasmine and honeysuckle with pure mouthfilling citrus flavours on a beautifully textured palate with minerally acidity. Still looking very youthful. 3-5
Comments Off on Saint Clair Family Estate Vicar’s Choice Marlborough Riesling 2017 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Delicate perfumed floral fragrances and a lemon drop of a palate with a touch of tropical fruit and nice minerality. 5+
Comments Off on Robert Stein Farm Mudgee Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Pure varietal nose of jasmine and citrus and a searing lemon driven palate with attractive phenolics. 5+
Comments Off on Richard Hamilton Clare Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018
Posted: November 7, 2018
Delicate citrus fragrances with underlying smokiness. Gently textured palate with simple citrus notes. Nice quaffer.
Comments Off on Koonowla Ringmaster Clare Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 7, 2018