Posted: December 10, 2019
Aromatic, fresh and lively, this medium to full-bodied wine has crisp passionfruit/lime flavours, a hint of green capsicum, and very good delicacy and depth. $23
Comments Off on Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This distinctive wine is a blend of sauvignon blanc (73%), sauvignon gris (20%) and semillon (7%), partly barrel-fermented. Already drinking well, but worth cellaring, it is full-bodied, with fresh, strong, tropical fruit flavours, showing very good complexity, and a long,…
Comments Off on Askerne Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Gris Hawke’s Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Sauvignon Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Made in an upfront style, this wine was fermented in French (86%) and American (14%) oak (24% new), and barrel-aged for 10 months. Bright, light yellow/green, it is full-bodied, with fresh, ripe stonefruit flavours and strong, buttery, toasty notes. It…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Fragrant, with ‘struck match’ aromas, this is a mouthfilling wine with generous, ripe, stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity, and accentuated, smoky notes adding complexity. A powerful style statement, it is a lively, ageworthy wine, likely to be at its best 2021+….
Comments Off on Te Awa Single Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Made in a rich, upfront style, this barrel-fermented wine is bright, light yellow, with bold, peachy, toasty, slightly buttery flavours and a smooth finish. Already drinking well, it should be at its best 2020+. $30 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Matahiwi Estate Holly Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Showing good personality, this sturdy, high-flavoured wine has a slightly biscuity bouquet. Mouthfilling, it has ripe, stonefruit flavours to the fore, considerable complexity and a soft, creamy- textured finish. Drink now-2021. $25
Comments Off on Linden Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This elegant wine has a fragrant, slightly biscuity, smoky bouquet. Fresh and mouthfilling, it has vibrant grapefruit and peach flavours, finely integrated oak adding complexity, and very good depth. Enjoyable now, it should be at its best mid-2020+. $24
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This subtle, creamy-textured wine was fermented and matured for 10 months in barrels, but with no use of new oak. Fresh and full-bodied, it has very good depth of ripe, peachy, slightly leesy flavours, considerable complexity, balanced acidity and lots…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Plainsman Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
If you like toasty, creamy, full-flavoured chardonnays, try this. Grown in the Havelock North hills, it was fermented and matured for 10 months in American oak casks (30% new) and given a full, softening malolactic fermentation. Fragrant and full-bodied, it…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Limeworks Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Finely balanced for current consumption, but also worth cellaring, this fragrant, vibrantly fruity wine has generous, ripe stonefruit flavours to the fore, a subtle seasoning of oak adding complexity, slightly buttery notes and a well-rounded finish. $23
Comments Off on Babich Black Label Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Offering good value, this creamy-textured wine was fermented and matured for nine months in mostly French oak casks (28% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with generous, ripe, peachy, toasty flavours, showing good complexity, and a well-rounded…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still very youthful, this elegant wine has a slightly smoky bouquet, strong grapefruit and peach flavours, mealy, biscuity notes adding complexity, finely integrated oak and a fresh, tightly structured finish. Best drinking 2021+. $32
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A classic regional style, this full-bodied wine was fermented and matured for nine months in French oak barrels. Rich and rounded, it has ripe, stonefruit flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, balanced acidity, and excellent complexity and depth. Best drinking 2021+….
Comments Off on Mission Barrique Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This tightly structured, vigorous young wine was estate-grown at Te Awanga (90%) and in the Bridge Pa Triangle (10%), and fermented and matured for a year in French oak casks (25% new). It has a fragrant, complex bouquet, leading into…
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This full-bodied, youthful, single-vineyard wine was grown in the Havelock North hills. Hand-picked and barrel-fermented, with strong, smoky, ‘struck match aromas’, it has intense, vibrant, stonefruit flavours, showing very good complexity, and a tightly structured finish. Best drinking 2021+. $39…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Swamp Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This powerful young wine was fermented and matured in French oak casks (35% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is full-bodied and sweet-fruited, with strong, ripe stonefruit flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, excellent complexity and a rich, smooth finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This stylish, tightly structured wine has a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet. Mouthfilling and youthful, it has vigorous, ripe, stonefruit flavours, gently seasoned with toasty oak, impressive intensity and a long finish. Best 2022+. $32
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very elegant, youthful wine was grown mostly in the Keltern Vineyard, barrel-fermented and aged ‘sur lie’ (on its yeast lees). Fresh and finely poised, it is sweet-fruited and tightly structured, with citrusy, peachy, mealy flavours, a subtle seasoning of…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Platinum Selection Sur Lie Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very elegant, youthful wine was grown in the Kokako Vineyard, in the Ohiti Valley, and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (26% new). Fragrant and full-bodied, it has strong, citrusy, peachy, biscuity flavours, with smoky notes adding…
Comments Off on Vidal Soler Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Already delicious, this fragrant, rich, complex wine was fermented and matured for a year in French oak puncheons (30% new). Still youthful, it is full-bodied, with strong, peachy, biscuity, slightly toasty and creamy flavours, balanced acidity and a long, harmonious…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This quietly classy wine was hand-picked and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (34% new). Refined and youthful, it is full-bodied, with deep, citrusy, peachy flavours, biscuity, savoury notes adding complexity, balanced acidity, and a tightly…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This classy, harmonious wine was estate-grown in the Havelock North hills and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (30% new). Full-bodied, it has concentrated, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, gentle biscuity and smoky notes adding complexity, and…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Swamp Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Fragrant and finely textured, this weighty wine has deep peach and grapefruit flavours, mealy notes adding complexity and a seamless, lingering finish. Fresh, youthful and finely poised, it’s already enjoyable, but likely to be at its best 2022+. $40 (A)
Comments Off on Babich Irongate Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Nose has interesting toasty complexity with a nice lemony length to the palate.
Comments Off on Ballewindi Mornington Peninsula Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Intense lemon sherbet varietal characters and developing toasty flavours.
Comments Off on Oakridge The Parish Yarra Valley Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
More of an old school style – slightly oily characters with lifted floral varietal fruit and pungent notes.
Comments Off on Atiru Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Bright lifted cherry aromas. Velvety smooth in the mouth with red cherry flavours and grippy tannins.
Comments Off on Pauletts Polish Hill River Clare Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Mixed perfumed aromatics and plenty of length of brown lime-like flavours with plenty of mouth-watering acidity and talc notes on the finish.
Comments Off on Pauletts Polish Hill River Clare Valley Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Silky smooth wine with a chocolaty nose and layers of sweet fruit flavours and generous tannins
Comments Off on Pauletts Polish Hill River Clare Valley Cabernet Merlot 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Estery sweet banana-like characters to the nose and long complex palate with nice crunchy texture.
Comments Off on Gleeson & Co Watervale Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A classic riesling nose; all green fruit and citrus with a floral lift. Lovely flavour complexity with layers of ripe citrus and delicate spiciness.
Comments Off on EB’s ‘The Settler’ Clare Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Lovely lifted fresh varietal aromas showing faint toastiness. Beautifully balanced palate that is brimming over with great flavours intensity and fresh acidity.
Comments Off on Gleeson & Co Clare Valley Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Attractive savoury fruit characters on the nose and a nicely weighted palate with mouth filling jammy fruit flavours.
Comments Off on EB’s ‘The Squire’ Clare Valley Shiraz 2016 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A lovely lifted jubey/confectionery citrus-like bouquet with an attractive supple and flavoursome palate with an excellent line of crisp acidity.
Comments Off on EB’s ‘The Settler’ Clare Valley Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Subtle rose petal bouquet and a bright lifted lychee-like palate.
Comments Off on Gleeson & Co Clare Valley Sangiovese Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A bright and racy citrus driven style of riesling. It’s very elegant and has a lovely crisp line of acidity.
Comments Off on Gleeson & Co Watervale Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Inky purple wine smelling of dark chocolate and berries with good length of jubey blackberry flavours and some serious tannins with a silky finish.
Comments Off on Gleeson & Co Clare Valley Shiraz 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Chocolaty dark berry bouquet and layers of lovely varietal fruit, toasty oak and very good tannins.
Comments Off on Kirrihill Vineyard Selection Series Clare Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Toasty honeyed bouquet with light buttery notes and very intense floral/citrus flavours with slight flinty toasty nuances. Still very youthful for its age.
Comments Off on Pokolbin Estate Phil Swannell Hunter Valley Semillon 2013 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Lovely developed toastiness dominates the flinty, spicy, nutty nose with zippy honeyed flavour length, weight and style with soft acidity. Ready for enjoyable drinking now!
Comments Off on Pokolbin Estate Phil Swannell Hunter Valley Semillon 2011 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Pale green/gold colour with a toasty buttery bouquet showing shades of green melon. Intense and powerful flavours. Ageing beautifully with many years left in it yet.
Comments Off on Pokolbin Estate Phil Swannell Hunter Valley Semillon 2009 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Has intensity and persistence of generous punchy red licorice, plum and floral fruit elements.
Comments Off on Richard Hamilton ‘Hut Block’ McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A super fresh straightforward wine with bright pretty red cherry fruit characters.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Great depth of red/purple hues. Bright bouquet of blueberries, rhubarb and violets. Light bodied palate, soft in the mouth, with lively vibrancy of raspberry flavours.
Comments Off on Leconfield Coonawarra Cabernet Franc 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Pale gold wine with a fresh citrus bouquet and youthful palate with super tight acidity.
Comments Off on Mistletoe Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon 2009 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Leafy cassis nose with a minty edge. A fresh, clean and uncomplicated palate. Good commercial style.
Comments Off on By Geoff Hardy Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Lovely concentration of dark fruit aromas. Palate is soft and rich with jubey fruit and chocolaty flavours and silky tannins.
Comments Off on O’Leary Walker Blue Cutting Road Cabernet Clare Valley Cabernet Merlot 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Dark fruit nose with a leafy edge and soft, silky and flavoursome in the mouth.
Comments Off on O’Leary Walker Polish Hill River Armagh Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Perfumed nose; hints of lilacs with slight funkiness. Beautifully textured, full flavoured palate with yeasty persistence
Comments Off on O’Leary Walker Polish Hill Clare Valley Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Beautifully aged wine with lovely characters of burnt butter, toast and tropical/citrus fruits.
Comments Off on Uleybury Reserve Adelaide Semillon 2002 / 0 View / December 10, 2019