Posted: July 3, 2019
Inviting sweet berry bouquet layered with meaty-like elements and peppery/spicy hints with plenty of peppery red fruit flavours obvious on the big rich palate.
Comments Off on Kalleske Greenock Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
A big powerful old fashioned style of shiraz with oak tending to dominate the ripe fruit.
Comments Off on Kalleske Moppa Barossa Valley Shiraz 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
A harmonious bright berry blend. Rich, complex and fruity red berry nose and a juicy palate with lots going on. Beautifully orchestrated mix of red and black berry flavours.
Comments Off on Kalleske Clarry’s Barossa Valley Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Another classic Burgundian style of chardonnay with its bright golden hues, subtle buttery oak aromas and fresh citrus/lemon cordial-like flavours with underlying leesy/smoky notes. $45
Comments Off on Swings & Roundabouts Backyard Stories Margaret River Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Light jammy notes to the floral forest fruit fragrances. Well-constructed palate juicy with cherry and strawberry fruit flavours, savoury notes and chamois soft tannins. $25 NZ
Comments Off on Mount Riley Limited Release Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Subtle earthy/mushroom nose with dark fruits of the forest notes. Attractive earthy sour cherry flavours with fresh acid. $25 NZ
Comments Off on Mount Riley Limited Release Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
A tropical mix of passionfruit, pawpaw and lychee aromas. Inviting varietal fruit flavours on the rich and complex palate. Very pleasant drink. $22 NZ
Comments Off on Mount Riley 17 Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Dark herbal fruit fragrances and firm fresh savoury palate, some herbal notes and good acidity with nice line of tannins. $25
Comments Off on Highgate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Lifted rancio notes to the dried fruit nose and mellow softness of sweet currant and raisined flavours with cold tea elements. $25
Comments Off on Chestnut Teal Limited Release Apera NV / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Dusty earthy style with gentle oaky aromas and ripe upfront raisined fruit flavours with a soft leathery textured finish. $31.99 NZ
Comments Off on Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Oak driven nose with an intense concentration of berry fruits underneath and a huge oaky palate with plums pushing through. $31
Comments Off on Gapsted Wines Ballerina Canopy Alpine Valleys Durif 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Lively oak driven aromas almost leap out of the glass and the very complex and very varietal palate has a vivacious lemon fruit presence. $25
Comments Off on Gapsted Wines Ballerina Canopy King Valley Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This sturdy, supple red was blended with a splash of viognier and aged for over a year in French oak casks (25% new). Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling, with generous dark fruit and black pepper flavours, hints of liquorice and…
Comments Off on Terrace Edge Waipara Valley Syrah 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Deeply coloured, fresh, supple red, matured for 19 months in French oak casks (33% new). Still youthful, with mouthfilling body, generous plum/spice flavours, a hint of herbs, and good complexity and fragrance. Best drinking 2020+. $50
Comments Off on Georges Road Cuvée 43 Waipara Syrah 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Well worth cellaring, this estate-grown red was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (25% new). Full-coloured, with a complex bouquet, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with fresh acidity and strong, ripe, spicy, slightly nutty flavours. $30
Comments Off on Mount Brown Estates Grand Reserve North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Certified organic, this fragrant, generous, sweet-fruited wine is still unfolding. Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing good complexity, and a finely poised, harmonious finish. Priced sharply. $30 (A)
Comments Off on Terrace Edge Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This elegant, youthful red was hand-harvested at Upper Moutere and barrel-aged for 11 months. Deep ruby, with a fragrant, savoury bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with generous, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, showing excellent vigour, complexity and harmony. Best drinking mid-2020+….
Comments Off on Old House Vineyards Falcon Hill Nelson Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This delicious, pink/pale red rosé was made wholly from syrah, held on its skins for four hours. Highly fragrant, it is mouthfilling, vibrantly fruity and finely balanced, with strong strawberry and spice flavours, threaded with fresh acidity, and a smooth,…
Comments Off on Terrace Edge North Canterbury Rosé 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
From estate-grown, hand-picked syrah, this ‘European-inspired’ rosé is fully dry, with a fresh, spicy fragrance. Pink/pale red, it’s a serious but delicious wine, medium-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with strong, delicate flavours of plums and watermelon, a hint of apricot, and…
Comments Off on Georges Road Les Terrasses Waipara Rosé 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Tightly structured, medium-bodied style, highly scented, with strong, peachy, citrusy, slightly spicy and gingery flavours, crisp, lively acidity and an off-dry, lasting finish. Already very expressive, but should also be long-lived. $25
Comments Off on Georges Road Block Three Waipara Riesling 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
From vines over 30 years old, this wine shows lovely poise and richness. Made in a distinctly medium style, it has crisp but not high acidity, with a powerful surge of fresh, peachy, citrusy, slightly spicy flavours. A very harmonious…
Comments Off on Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley North Canterbury Riesling 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Certified organic, this very pale straw wine was mostly tank-fermented, with a small portion in old oak barrels. Full-bodied, it has strong pear and lychee flavours, showing good complexity, and a dry, gently spicy finish. Well worth cellaring. $29 (A)
Comments Off on Greystone Sand Dollar Waipara Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This fleshy, youthful, very ageworthy wine was fermented in a mix of tanks (40%) and old oak barrels (60%). Full-bodied, it is a medium-dry style, vibrantly fruity, with good concentration of ripe stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity and a slightly sweet,…
Comments Off on Terrace Edge North Canterbury Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Full of personality, this is a rich, dry style of pinot gris (4 grams/litre residual sugar), fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak barrels. Full-bodied, it has peachy, spicy, vaguely honeyed flavours, woven with fresh acidity, and notable complexity and…
Comments Off on Georges Road Selection Waipara Pinot Gris 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Probably at its peak this year, this aromatic, vibrantly fruity wine was grown at Upper Moutere and tank-fermented. Bright, light lemon/green, it is very fresh and lively, with good intensity of ripe, delicate, passionfruit/lime flavours and a crisp, tangy finish….
Comments Off on Old House Vineyards Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This elegant, ageworthy white is a single-vineyard, Upper Moutere wine, fermented and matured for seven months in French oak barrels. Light lemon/green, it is youthful and tightly structured, with vibrant, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, fresh…
Comments Off on Old House Vineyards Kaho Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Showing good complexity, this Waipara wine was fermented and lees-aged for eight months in old French oak barrels. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and smooth, with well-ripened, tropical fruit flavours, finely integrated oak, and a long, very harmonious…
Comments Off on Greystone Barrel Fermented Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This ageworthy wine was hand-picked at Upper Moutere and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak casks. Fragrant and full-bodied, it has citrusy, peachy, toasty flavours, firm acid spine, slightly creamy, buttery notes, and very good complexity, structure and depth….
Comments Off on Old House Vineyards One Tree Nelson Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This good-value wine was grown at Waipara and barrel-fermented. Full-bodied, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong, grapefruit-like flavours to the fore, a subtle seasoning of oak, and fresh acidity. (From Pegasus Bay.) $21 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Main Divide North Canterbury Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This powerful, North Canterbury wine has a definite ‘wow’ factor. From ungrafted, 30 year-old vines, it was hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak puncheons (30% new). Full of personality, it has a highly fragrant, complex, slightly smoky…
Comments Off on Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This is a lively, medium-bodied red, attractive young. Deeply coloured, it has satisfying depth of berry, plum and spice flavours, woven with fresh acidity, and a smooth finish. (From Pernod-Ricard NZ.) $23
Comments Off on The Last Shepherd Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Already drinking well, this estate-grown red is ruby hued and vibrantly fruity, with satisfying depth of ripe plum, berry and spice flavours, some savoury notes adding complexity, and a smooth finish. $26
Comments Off on Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Awatere Valley Tempranillo 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Estate-grown in the Seaview Vineyard, in the lower Awatere Valley, this ruby hued, harmonious red is vibrantly fruity and moderately concentrated, with a distinct touch of complexity, gentle tannins and lots of drink-young charm. $26
Comments Off on Yealands Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Awatere Valley Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Exuberantly fruity, this is a good, drink-young style. Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, vibrant, plummy, slightly spicy flavours, gentle acidity and an ultra-smooth finish. $27 (A, US)
Comments Off on Toi Toi Clutha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Grown in the Mills & Ford Vineyard, in the lower Wairau Valley, this is a pale, fresh, medium to full-bodied wine. Drinking well now, it has fresh, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, dry and well-rounded, with an inviting fragrance. $25
Comments Off on Yealands Estate M2 Organic Single Block Wairau Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Certified organic, this youthful wine was hand-picked, barrel-aged for a year, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, it is fragrant, with moderately concentrated, savoury, nutty flavours, showing good complexity, and a fairly firm finish. Best drinking 20221+. $42
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Maturing gracefully, this is a barrel-fermented style, estate-grown in the upper Awatere Valley. Fragrant, with a complex bouquet, it is medium to full-bodied, with a minerally streak and ripely herbaceous, slightly toasty flavours, showing very good complexity and depth. $27…
Comments Off on Tohu Mugwi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This elegant sparkling was blended from Marlborough chardonnay and Hawke’s Bay pinot noir, with some components lees-aged for up to five years. Fragrant, it is appetisingly crisp and dry, with a steady ‘bead’ and strong, fresh, citrusy, appley flavours, yeasty,…
Comments Off on Haha Brut Cuvée NV NV / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Certified organic, this Wairau Valley wine was hand-picked from mature vines and 30% barrel-fermented. Sweet-fruited, it is a youthful, medium to full-bodied wine, with ripe, tropical fruit flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak adding complexity, and a crisp, fully dry…
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Very ageworthy, this supple, medium-bodied red has a floral, peppery bouquet. Estate-grown, hand-harvested and blended with a splash of viognier (2%), it was matured for eight months in a mix of French oak barriques and 5,000-litre ovals. Still purple-flushed, it…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Aromatic and lively, this fleshy, generous wine is from sites in the Wairau Valley. Fresh and full-bodied, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong, ripe passionfruit/lime flavours and a finely balanced, appetising crisp finish. $22 (A)
Comments Off on Toi Toi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This classy, coastal Northland red was estate-grown and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (30% new). Deep and still youthful in colour, it is fragrant, weighty and concentrated, with ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, showing impressive vigour, balance and…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Syrah 2015 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Already drinking well, this fleshy, rich wine was estate-grown in Northland and matured for a year in French oak barriques. Weighty, with concentrated, ripe, stonefruit flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, it shows excellent complexity and harmony, with a long finish….
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
This fragrant, rich wine was hand-picked, fermented in French oak casks (35% new) and barrel-aged for a year. Bright, light lemon/green, it is weighty and lively, with fresh, concentrated, stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity, and excellent texture and complexity. $29
Comments Off on Alchemy Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Well worth cellaring, this is a deeply coloured Hawke’s Bay blend of cabernet sauvignon (43%), cabernet franc (41%), merlot (14%) and malbec (2%). Barrel-aged for 16 months, it is fresh and mouthfilling, with pure, youthful, blackcurrant-like flavours, hints of berries…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2016 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Already drinking well, this classy Hawke’s Bay wine was hand-picked and fermented and aged for a year in French oak puncheons. Bright, light yellow/green, it is fragrant, rich and youthful, in a tight, elegant style with balanced acidity and vibrant,…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Stewed fruit aromas starting to show some aged characters. Fruity sweet palate balanced with vanillin oak, crisp acid and good level of tannins with a toasty oak finish.
Comments Off on De Lisio Wines Adelaide Hills Sangiovese 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Dusty raspberry bouquet with hints of blackcurrants and a balance of minty cherry flavours.
Comments Off on Chain of Ponds Morning Star Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019
Posted: July 3, 2019
Toasty nutty nose with a pear-like lift and a flinty thread. Creamy and oaky on the palate. 3-5
Comments Off on Chain of Ponds Corkscrew Road Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / July 3, 2019