Posted: April 24, 2020
Grown in the Awatere Valley, this fresh, full-bodied wine has ripe peach and pear flavours, hints of spices and ginger, and a dryish finish. Enjoyable young. $23
Comments Off on Volcanic Hills Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Fresh, lively and youthful, this charming Hawke’s Bay red includes a splash of cabernet franc (9%). Full-coloured, it has vibrant plum and black pepper flavours, a hint of liquorice, fresh acidity and very good depth. Best drinking 2021+. $25
Comments Off on Haha Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Probably at its peak, this hand-harvested, barrel-fermented wine is bright, light gold, with bottle-aged complexity. Full-bodied, it has strong, peachy, slightly toasty flavours, fresh acidity and a dry finish. Certified organic. $32
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Viognier 2016 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Punchy and finely balanced, this Awatere Valley wine is freshly aromatic and intensely varietal, with very good flavour depth and a crisp, dry, lengthy finish. $23
Comments Off on Volcanic Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This barrel-fermented wine was grown in the inland Crownthorpe district. Bright yellow/green, with a toasty, slightly creamy bouquet, it is sweet-fruited, with generous stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity, and lots of drink-young appeal. $29
Comments Off on Volcanic Hills Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This mouthfilling, generous wine was estate-grown on the coast, at Kina, and barrel-fermented. Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied, with strong, ripe stonefruit flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, balanced acidity and good complexity. $26
Comments Off on Renato Nelson Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Showing good complexity, this Hawke’s Bay wine was barrel-fermented and oak-aged for nine months. Light straw in hue, it is fragrant, with balanced acidity and generous, ripe, peachy, biscuity, mealy flavours. Best drinking 2021+. $22 (A)
Comments Off on Pask Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Estate-grown in the lower Awatere Valley, this punchy, partly barrel-fermented wine is fresh and weighty, with good intensity of ripe, tropical fruit flavours, a touch of complexity, and a dry, appetisingly crisp finish. $22 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Delicious young, this single-vineyard red was hand-picked at Bendigo and partly (50%) barrel-aged. Bright ruby, it is perfumed and supple, with vibrant, ripe, sweet-fruit flavours to the fore, in a very charming style. $32 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Closed with a crown seal, the first bubbly from this North Canterbury producer was made from riesling and “bottled prior to fully completing its first fermentation, allowing carbon dioxide to be produced by the natural sugars found in the grapes.”…
Comments Off on Greystone Organic North Canterbury Pétillant Naturel 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Attractively scented, this medium-bodied wine has citrusy flavours, a hint of passionfruit and very good depth. Slightly sweet, with some toasty, bottle-aged notes, it’s drinking well now. $30
Comments Off on Bald Hills Last Light Central Otago Single Vineyard Bannockburn Riesling 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Probably at or near its peak, this is a full-bodied, tightly structured, distinctly cool-climate style of pinot gris, with lively acidity and good intensity of citrus fruit, pear and spice flavours, fresh and dryish. $30
Comments Off on Bald Hills Kirameki Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Still very youthful, this Waipara Valley, North Canterbury blend of merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and malbec was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with concentrated, vibrant blackcurrant, plum, herb and spice flavours, showing…
Comments Off on Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley North Canterbury Merlot Cabernet 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Finely textured, this elegant red was hand-harvested in the Southern Valleys and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Deep ruby, it is fragrant and supple, with very good density of cherry, plum and spice flavours, savoury and complex….
Comments Off on Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Opening out well, this ripely scented Wairau Valley wine is a classic sub-regional style. Sweet-fruited, it is crisp and dry, with very good weight, harmony and depth of passionfruit/lime flavours. Fine value. $21 (UK)
Comments Off on Jackson Estate Stich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Offering fine value, this wine was estate-grown in the Wairau Valley and 75% barrel-fermented. It has a fragrant, slightly creamy bouquet, leading into an elegant, sweet-fruited wine with vibrant, citrusy, peachy flavours, biscuity, savoury notes adding complexity, and a very…
Comments Off on Jackson Estate Shelter Belt Single Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Finely perfumed, this very graceful, deep ruby red has ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity and supple tannins. Strongly varietal and very harmonious, it should be at its best 2021+. $43
Comments Off on Greystone Waipara Valley North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Already drinking well, but worth cellaring, this is a ripely scented, mouthfilling wine from North Canterbury. Fermented and matured for six months in old barriques, it is fleshy and sweet-fruited, with concentrated tropical fruit flavours, slightly toasty notes adding complexity,…
Comments Off on Greystone Barrel Fermented North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Made from pinot noir, this pale pink, floral wine has strong strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours. Vivacious, with good delicacy, it is a dryish style with fresh acidity and excellent harmony. $30
Comments Off on Bald Hills Friends and Lovers Single Vineyard Central Otago Bannockburn Rosé 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Fresh, full-bodied and lively, this youthful wine was estate-grown, hand-picked, tank-fermented and lees-aged for eight months. Light lemon/green, it has good intensity, delicacy and vigour, with pear and lychee flavours, a hint of spices, and an off-dry finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Aurum Organic Central Otago Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Certified organic, this classy Wairau Valley wine was hand-picked and 30% barrel-fermented. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fleshy and dry, with strong, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, slightly creamy notes, and excellent complexity and texture. Drink now or cellar. $25 (A,…
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Delicious from the start, this fragrant, sweet-fruited, very harmonious red was grown principally at Parkburn, in the Cromwell Basin, with a small component (12%) from Gibbston. Deep ruby, it is scented, full-bodied, vibrantly fruity and supple, with rich cherry, plum…
Comments Off on Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Full of youthful vigour, this is an Alsace-style pinot gris – sturdy, vibrantly fruity and rich. Pale straw, it is mouthfilling, with strong, pure peach, pear and spice flavours, a sliver of sweetness, and a well-rounded, lingering finish. Open mid-2021+….
Comments Off on Greystone Organic Waipara Valley North Canterbury Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Already very expressive, this organically certified wine was hand-picked, barrel-fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (20% new). Bright, light yellow, it is weighty and fleshy, with concentrated, ripe, peachy, slightly citrusy flavours, fresh acidity and a…
Comments Off on Greystone Organic Waipara Valley North Canterbury Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Maturing very gracefully, this fragrant, deep ruby, elegant red was hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak barriques (33% new). Still unfolding, it is full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, nutty, savoury notes…
Comments Off on Bald Hills Central Otago Single Vineyard Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Certified organic, this is a very ageworthy red. Estate-grown at Lowburn, it was hand-harvested, matured for a year in French oak barrels (20% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deeply coloured, it is fragrant, fresh and full-bodied, with concentrated, vibrant…
Comments Off on Aurum Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This vibrantly fruity red was grown at Patutahi. Full-coloured, with plummy, slightly earthy aromas, it is full-bodied, with ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity and a smooth finish. $23
Comments Off on Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Merlot 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
From Awaroa Winery, this red was grown in the Te Whau vineyard. Based mostly on cabernet sauvignon (49%) and merlot (36%), with smaller amounts of cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot, it is a youthful, ageworthy wine. Full-coloured, it is…
Comments Off on Waiheke Road Waiheke Island Cabernet Merlot 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This characterful, savoury West Auckland red is full-coloured and mouthfilling, with vibrant blackcurrant, plum, red berry and spice flavours, oak complexity and good tannin backbone. Best drinking 2021+. $28
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Guido in Velvet Pants Kumeu Montepulciano 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Fresh and lively, this medium to full-bodied red was hand-harvested and matured for a year in French oak barriques. Fragrant, with hints of spices and olives, it has strong plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, savoury notes adding complexity and…
Comments Off on Awaroa Waiheke Island Syrah 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Grown at Te Whau Vineyard, this is a fragrant, very ageworthy red. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling and well-structured, with youthful, plummy, spicy flavours, fresh acidity, and excellent vigour and depth. Open 2022+. (From Awaroa Winery). $45
Comments Off on Waiheke Road Waiheke Island Syrah 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Still youthful, this impressively concentrated Northland red will be very long-lived. Matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (30% new), it is fragrant, with dense blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, and a finely structured, long…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Northland Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This very ageworthy Northland red was hand-picked and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques. Deeply coloured, it is full-bodied, with a savoury, spicy fragrance and concentrated blackcurrant, spice and plum flavours, showing excellent structure and complexity. Best drinking…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Northland Syrah 2017 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Ruby hued, this fragrant red has good depth of cherry, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity and slightly savoury, nutty notes adding complexity. Drink now-2022. (From Palliser Estate). $31 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Pencarrow Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Pale pink, this Northland rosé is a blend of merlot and syrah. Medium to full-bodied, it has peach, spice and strawberry flavours, a hint of apricot and a dryish, very smooth finish. $27
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Northland Rosé 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This attractive, pale pink rosé was made from pinot noir. Very fresh and lively, it is medium-bodied, with delicate watermelon and spice flavours, a hint of apricot, appetising acidity and a smooth finish. $23
Comments Off on Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Pinot Rosé 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This vivacious bubbly was made from pinot gris and flora. Slightly sweet, with fresh, delicate pear, lemon and apple flavours, a touch of complexity, appetising acidity and a lingering finish, it’s a distinctive, slightly muscat-like wine, offering delicious summer drinking….
Comments Off on Thomas Waiheke Island Blanc de Gris 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
From young vines at Patutahi, this vigorous, very harmonious wine is already delicious. Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, with good intensity of fresh, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, fractional sweetness balanced by appetising acidity, and strong personality. $25
Comments Off on Matawhero Church House Single Vineyard Gisborne Chenin Blanc 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Priced right, this is a punchy, very fresh and lively wine. Medium to full-bodied, it has strong, ripely herbaceous flavours that linger well. (From Palliser Estate). $22 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Pencarrow Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Delicious drinking from now onwards, this strongly varietal wine has generous, passionfruit-like flavours, combining excellent ripeness and vibrancy, and a mouth-wateringly crisp finish. $28 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Still unfolding, this pale, freshly scented wine is medium-bodied, with good depth of pear, lychee and spice flavours, lively acidity and an off-dry finish. $23
Comments Off on Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Showing very good depth and drive, this Northland wine was hand-picked and made in an off-dry style. Pale straw, it is a lively, medium-bodied wine with clearcut varietal characters, fresh acidity and strong pear and spice flavours. Best drinking 2021+….
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Northland Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This Alsace-style pinot gris is full of potential. Bright, light lemon/green, it has mouthfilling body, with strong, ripe peach, pear and spice flavours and a slightly sweet, crisp, persistent finish. Best drinking 2022+. $31 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Hand-picked at Kerikeri, this classy young wine is full-bodied, scented and lively, with very good drive and depth of stonefruit and spice flavours, a slightly oily texture and a dryish, lingering finish. Best drinking 2021+. $24
Comments Off on Morepork Vineyard Northland Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This distinctive wine was estate-grown and hand-picked at Te Muna, tank-fermented and partly matured for eight months in seasoned French oak barrels. Scented, mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, it has strong pear, lychee and spice flavours, lees-aging notes adding complexity, balanced…
Comments Off on The Elder Martinborough Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
Fresh and full-bodied, this gently oaked wine has lively, peachy, citrusy flavours, slightly buttery notes, balanced acidity and lots of drink-young appeal. Best drinking 2021+. (From Palliser Estate). $25 (UK)
Comments Off on Pencarrow Martinborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
This softly mouthfilling wine is already drinking well. Bright, light yellow/green, it has strong, ripe stonefruit flavours, slightly spicy notes, gentle acidity and a rich, creamy-smooth finish. $23
Comments Off on Matawhero Single Vineyard Gisborne Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / April 24, 2020
Posted: April 24, 2020
For those who want to “relive the 80s”, this is a bold chardonnay style, fermented and aged for 11 months in American oak barrels (33% new). Bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, toasty bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with balanced acidity…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Big & Buttery Gisborne Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / April 24, 2020