Posted: September 6, 2017
A wine that polarized opinion; some liked the charry, slightly reductive note whilst others though it a bit too much. Definitely a modern take on pinot noir.
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Estate Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A bold style of pinot; darkly fruited with big chalky tannins but the finish is smooth and silky. Plenty of concentration and density, but needs time to really come into its own.
Comments Off on Bald Hills Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Gently aromatic; raspberry and strawberry fruit with a little dried herb. A softly textured wine with plenty of appeal
Comments Off on Two Degrees Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Baked red strawberry with a touch of florals on the nose and a juicy, plummy palate. Already drinking well now, for the shorter haul.
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A bigger framed pinot; dark cherry fruit sits alongside dense, grainy tannins. Powerful and dense.
Comments Off on Domain Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Red cherry and raspberry aromas with a touch of rose petal. Almost Beaujolais in style; acidity rather than tannin on the palate. Immensely cheerful and super delicious.
Comments Off on Rua Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Very deep colour. Fruit sits firmly in the darker spectrum; black cherry, damson. Exotic, opulent silky style with plenty in reserve. Too young – one judge described it as ‘brooding” but plenty of potential
Comments Off on Shaky Bridge Pioneer Series Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Soft red summer fruits interwoven with dried thyme and sage herbs. A lovely dynamic style of pinot; plenty of concentration and density but light on its feet.
Comments Off on Maude Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Beautifully vibrant colour; lots of cherry fruit, with a little cinnamon spice too. Crisp and vivid with a firm acid spine. Silky tannins. A super, very appealing style of pinot.
Comments Off on Two Degrees Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Red cherry and strawberry aromas. Juicy and uncomplicated, this is a sweetly fruited, polished lighter bodied style of pinot.
Comments Off on Paul Henry’s Own Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Really rather lovely. Bright strawberry and raspberry aromas, vibrant and full of life. The palate has a teeny hint of sweetness but the finish is dry and crisp. Cheerful.
Comments Off on Two Degrees Rosé 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Gently aromatic; blossom and white petal sits alongside some apple and pear. Light on its feet, vivid fruit flavours with a nice line of acid. Off dry finish.
Comments Off on Wooing Tree Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A lighter, drier style of pinot gris; gently aromatic with fresh nashi pear and apple flavours leading to a chalky textured crisp, focused palate.
Comments Off on Peregrine Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Definite on the sweeter side, ripe red apple and poached pear. A bigger bolder take on pinot gris.
Comments Off on Ostler Lakeside Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A gentle, lightly spicy wine with some mandarin and baked apple flavours.
Comments Off on Bald Hills Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A fragrant pinot gris with bright youthful flavours of pear and lemon, fruit focussed with a creamy generous texture. Ready to drink.
Comments Off on Bald Hills Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
I wrote ‘chocolate digestives’, maybe not a classic pinot gris note but one that seemed to capture the combination of biscuit, creamy fruit flavours. $35.00
Comments Off on Ostler Audrey’s Waitaki Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
An attractively textured subtle wine that has plenty poached apple and pear on the nose. Uncomplicated with a delightful vibrant lifted flavour. Just a teensy bit off dry. $30.00
Comments Off on Quartz Reef Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A slightly sweeter style with some blossom and talcum powder aromas and a nice baked apple crumble flavour. There is a touch of savoury pith that gives the wine texture. Pretty smart stuff.
Comments Off on Rockburn Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Peaches and toast, some definite bottle developed characters coming through. A drier style that is perfect now.
Comments Off on Ostler Lakeside Waitaki Riesling 2013 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Talcum powder and fresh satsuma. Tight and focused with a wet stone, pithy finish.
Comments Off on Bannock Brae Dry Riesling 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Subtle mandarin and white fleshed peach aromas carry through to the palate which is juicy and ripe.
Comments Off on Bald Hills Riesling 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A focused, tighter style of riesling full of wet stone and mineral. High acidity runs through the palate. For those who prefer drier Rieslings.
Comments Off on Brennan Riesling 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Fresh lime and juicy mandarin fruit on the nose with a touch of florals too. Off dry with crisp mouthwatering acidity providing a counterpoint
Comments Off on Bald Hills Riesling 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Good to see a wine with some age. Definitely moving into the tertiary spectrum; kerosene and wet stone. Fairly sweet but held tight by a pretty firm acid spine and a saline, chalky finish.
Comments Off on Ostler Blue House Vines Waitaki Riesling 2012 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Just starting to show some bottle developed aromas of toast and biscuit that sit nicely alongside those of citrus and red apple. Lovely and sweet with a delightful thread of acidity that keeps everything in balance.
Comments Off on Domaine Rewa Riesling 2014 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A riper style, the fruit edging towards white fleshed nectarine and apricot rather than citrus. A fleshy wine, medium sweet with excellent depth of flavour and a lovely persistent finish.
Comments Off on Valli Waitaki Riesling 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Pungent aromas of citrus, blossom and green apple. Medium dry, with a touch of grapefruit pith and wet stone texture and plenty of juicy acidity too.
Comments Off on Rockburn Tigermoth Riesling 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A really delicious wine; vivid citrussy aromas of freshly squeezed limes and lemons, some orange blossom too. Off dry with a mouthwatering, nervy acid spine. Good length. Plenty of density and interest yet retains a delightful lightness.
Comments Off on Domain Road Vineyard Duffers Creek Riesling 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
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Comments Off on Terra Sancta Riverblock Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Nice varietal definition; soft green herbs, a touch of pepper on the nose and a crisp, relatively full bodied palate. A good alternative to the drier styles of Riesling.
Comments Off on Bannock Brae Marlene’s Gruner Veltliner 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A lighter bodied, cooler expression of Sauvignon Blanc; flavours sitting firmly in the cucumber, elderflower and freshly cut grass spectrum. Crisp and delicate.
Comments Off on Domaine Road Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A bright, creamy style of chardonnay that is all about subtlety and restraint. Light stone fruit, red apple and fresh pear flavours are supported by a gentle undercurrent of oak which is beautifully integrated. Would cellar though drinking well now.
Comments Off on Akarua Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
An appealing, lightly aromatic white; rose petal, gingerbread and honeysuckle. This isn’t a powerful wine but a very pretty, softly textured, just off dry white, uncomplicated yet with enough flavour to hold one’s interest.
Comments Off on Brennan Trio 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Tight and lean, a great example of cool climate chardonnay that allows minerally fruit flavours of wet stone, crisp apple and pear to shine. Savoury and focused, just a hint of oak. Great length.
Comments Off on Domaine Rewa Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Powerful aromas of freshly buttered brown bread and pastry crust confirm this wine spent an extended time en tirage. The palate is concentrated, focused yet beautifully delicate with a creamy, fine mousse. Strong acid line keeps the whole show on…
Comments Off on Quartz Reef Methode Traditionelle 2012 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Punchy herbaceous/tropical nose and a big toasty palate with loads of flavour. Drink now!
Comments Off on St Johns Brook Single Vineyard Margaret River Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Very light green hues here showing delicate aromatics of lemon butter mingling with cut hay elements. Lovely drive and intensity of silky smooth lemon zest-like flavours.
Comments Off on Murray Street Vineyards White Label Barossa Valley Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Simple lemon zest nose and a very well structured, very tight and elegant citrus palate with more of that lovely zestiness.
Comments Off on Sage Pokolbin Semillon 2014 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A golden wine with a very closed nose with just a hint of spicy/toasty fragrances. The long, soft palate has lovely intensity and complexity of fruit and toasty bottle age.
Comments Off on Kaimira Estate Brightwater Nelson NZ Semillon 2009 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A beautiful classic. “Wow it’s all class”, enthused one judge. Lovely nose has a classic semillon structure with an incredibly balanced lemon/lime fruit palate. Good phenolic support.
Comments Off on Peter Lehmann Wines Margaret Barossa Semillon 2011 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
The nose is herbaceous and perfumed with a lovely fresh and elegant varietal fruit palate with a crunchy acid finish.
Comments Off on Alkoomi Icon Range Wandoo Frankland River Semillon 2013 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Lovely cool climate style. Nice lift of green pea aromas and flavours in the herbaceous spectrum.
Comments Off on Harman’s Estate Reserve Margaret River Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Very elegant style with subtle minerally lemon fragrances and long, tightly textured, palate.
Comments Off on Esto Adelaide Hills Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Nice ‘green’ nose and crisp clean flavours with slightly sour-like acidity.
Comments Off on Miles From Nowhere Best Blocks Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Attractive nose with slightly toasty/honeyed aromas and some good lemon intensity to the palate, a touch of honeyed complexity and pure acid drive.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Hunter Valley Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon 2013 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Very floral and spicy style with a lovely fresh complexity of varietal fruit on the nose and a flavoursome, savoury, palate that has plenty of length and some nice viscosity.
Comments Off on Tamburlaine Hunter Valley Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A broader style with some honeyed development. Toasty citrussy aromas and flavours on a creamy textured palate. Nice acidity.
Comments Off on Mistletoe Reserve Hunter Valley Semillon 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A typical Hunter semillon; lovely and rich with honeyed aromas and toasty flavours.
Comments Off on Mistletoe Wild Hunter Valley Semillon 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A very flavoursome wine. “It’s a lemon curd tart”, declared one judge. Lovely varietal fruit, good complexity and plenty of length.
Comments Off on Pokolbin Estate Phil Swannell Hunter Valley Semillon 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017