Posted: June 9, 2017
Pink/pale orange, mouthfilling, fresh and smooth, with strong peach, spice and watermelon flavours, showing complexity from partial barrel fermentation.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Tight, elegant wine, fresh and medium-bodied, with strong, citrusy flavours, hints of ginger and spice, and very good vigour, poised and depth. Youthful, off-dry wine, well worth cellaring to 2016+.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Marlborough Riesling 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Deep, purple-flushed blend of merlot (95%) and a splash of cabernet sauvignon, grown in the Gimblett Gravels and barrel-aged. Full-bodied and fleshy, with warm red berry and spice flavours, gentle tannins and good density. Enjoyable now; best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Halo Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fleshy, ripe Gisborne red from vines planted in 1985 at Bridge Estate, barrel-matured for 18 months. Fresh and vibrantly fruity, with ripe, blackcurrant and plum flavours, an earthy streak, a gentle oak influence and excellent depth.
Comments Off on Poverty Bay Merlot Cabernet 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Floral, graceful and supple red, with fresh, ripe cherry and plum flavours that linger well. ‘Feminine’ style, ruby hued, with gentle tannins, finely integrated oak and good potential; open 2016+.
Comments Off on Pasquale Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Lemon-scented, mouthfilling and smooth, with very good weight and flavour depth, a subtle oak influence, firm acid spine and buttery, mealy notes adding complexity. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Pasquale Waitaki Valley Chardonnay 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Floral, berry and spice aromas lead into a ruby hued, full-bodied, savoury red with generous, well-ripened cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing good complexity. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Moutere Hills Nelson Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
This fleshy, Alsace-style wine was estate-grown, hand-picked at 25 brix and partly barrel-aged. Ripely scented, it is a finely balanced, medium-dry style with strong, peachy, spicy flavours, hints of ginger and apricot, and a long finish. Already delicious.
Comments Off on Moutere Hills Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Probably at its peak, this is a distinctive wine, nutty and toasty, with firm acid spine. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and complex, with rich, citrusy, peachy flavours and a fractionally honeyed, tight, dry finish.
Comments Off on Man O’ War Valhalla Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2011 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Already very expressive, this pale straw wine was grown on Ponui Island, at the eastern end of Waiheke Island. Gently honeyed, it is a medium-sweet style with fresh acidity woven through its peachy, spicy flavours, which show good vigour and…
Comments Off on Man O’ War Exiled Ponui Island Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Weighty, ripe style with strong, lively, passionfruit-like flavours, hints of pineapples and spices, fresh, balanced acidity and a lingering finish. Lots of youthful impact. Certified organic.
Comments Off on Loveblock Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Toasty, bottle-aged aromas lead into a mouthfilling, fully dry wine with rich grapefruit and spice flavours, a minerally thread and a long, harmonious finish. Still very lively, it’s drinking well now
Comments Off on Loveblock Bone Marlborough Dry Riesling 2011 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Sturdy, deep ruby red with ripe, concentrated, plummy flavours and hints of cherries, spices and nutty oak. Powerful, firmly structured, youthful wine, well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Sturdy, full-coloured red with substantial body and concentrated red berry and spice flavours. Sweet-fruited and savoury, with good depth, structure and complexity. Drink now-2017.
Comments Off on Kina Cliffs Nelson Pinot Noir 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Hand-harvested in a coastal vineyard, this is a full-bodied, Alsace-style wine, partly (10%) barrel-aged. Pale straw, it is weighty and fleshy, with fresh, generous, slightly sweet flavours of ripe stonefruits, a hint of spice, gentle acidity and a well-rounded finish….
Comments Off on Kina Cliffs Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fresh-scented, mouthfilling and dry, in a typical Wairau Valley style with crisp, tropical fruit flavours, lively, tangy and strong.
Comments Off on Jackson Estate Stich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fairly mature style but still lively, with rich strawberry, peach and spice flavours, toasty and crisp, and good complexity. Ready.
Comments Off on Deutz Cuveé Marlborough Rosé 2009 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Rich, vibrantly fruity Hawke’s Bay blend of malbec and cabernet franc, estate-grown on the coast, at Te Awanga, and matured in seasoned French and American barriques. Full-coloured, with fresh, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, firm tannins and good density….
Comments Off on Clearview Two Pinnacles Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
This deeply coloured red was grown at Te Awanga and matured in seasoned oak barriques. It’s a powerful, weighty, sweet-fruited wine with a strong surge of blackcurrant, plum and black pepper flavours, gentle tannins and great drink-young appeal.
Comments Off on Clearview Cape Kidnappers Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Still very youthful, this is a sweet-fruited, full-bodied wine with concentrated, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, slightly creamy notes and a dry, tight finish.
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
This is a mouthfilling, supple, savoury red with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent complexity and depth. It’s worth cellaring, but already drinking well.
Comments Off on Aurum Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Finely scented, classy young wine with mouthfilling body and excellent intensity of vibrant stonefruit and spice flavours. Off-dry style, youthful and persistent.
Comments Off on Vavasour Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fleshy, mouthfilling, barrel-fermented wine with generous, ripe, stonefruit and spice flavours and good complexity. Dryish style, with excellent harmony and length.
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Lola’s Block Bannockburn Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, full-coloured, sweet-fruited red with cherry, spice, dried herb and nut flavours, showing excellent ripeness, complexity and depth. Powerful, complex wine with good density. Youthful, but already drinking well.
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Estate Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Weighty, youthful, single-vineyard wine, grown at Rapaura, in the Wairau Valley. Fresh, ripe, concentrated passionfruit/lime flavours, with a dry, finely textured, long finish.
Comments Off on Staete Landt Annabel Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dry style (2.6 grams/litre residual sugar), hand-picked and partly oak-fermented. Powerful, weighty wine with deep, citrusy, slightly spicy flavours, a minerally streak and a finely poised, tangy, persistent finish. Distinctive and well worth trying.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Riesling 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Powerful, with impressive weight and depth of ripe stonefruit, ginger and spice flavours, a slightly oily texture and a dryish, well-rounded, harmonious finish. Delicious young.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Exotically perfumed, mouthfilling and very softly structured. Rich, ripe lychee, pear, peach and spice flavours, in an intensely varietal style, delicious young. Fine value.
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Tight, elegant, very youthful wine, estate-grown in the Waihopai Valley, hand-picked and barrel-aged for 20 months. Fresh, complex bouquet, leading into a very refined wine with delicate, citrusy, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, and good acid spine….
Comments Off on Spy Valley Envoy Marlborough Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fresh, strong, slightly grassy aromas, leading into a vibrantly fruity, crisp, fully dry wine with ripely herbaceous flavours. Typical Wairau Valley style with excellent drive and length.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 20 Cash Block 14 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Perfumed, weighty, Waihopai Valley red with generous, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent concentration and complexity, fine-grained tannins and a lengthy finish. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Exotically perfumed, weighty and smooth, with a gentle splash of sweetness (19 grams/litre residual sugar), luscious stonefruit, lychee and spice flavours, and a soft, rich finish. Delicious young.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 12 Lone Gum Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Youthful, very ageworthy blend of sauvignon blanc (70%) and semillon (30%), grown at the eastern end of Waiheke Island and partly barrel-fermented. Mouthfilling, with fresh, ripely herbaceous flavours, a hint of toasty oak, and excellent concentration, drive and complexity. Best…
Comments Off on Man O’ War Gravestone Gewurztraminer 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Estate-grown at a hill-top site in the lower Awatere Valley, this richly perfumed, Alsace-style wine is fleshy, with delicious depth of peachy, spicy, slightly gingery flavours. A medium style, it is intensely varietal and probably at its peak.
Comments Off on Loveblock Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2011 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, mouthfilling, supple red from the Gibbston sub-region. Deeply coloured, with good weight and generous, youthful, well-ripened cherry, plum and spice flavours. Savoury, complex wine, likely to be at its best 2016+.
Comments Off on Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
From vines nearly 30 years old, this Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay red is dark and full-bodied, with rich blackcurrant, plum, spice and herb flavours, fresh acidity, toasty oak adding complexity and a good backbone of tannin. Best drinking 2017+.
Comments Off on Clearview Reserve Cabernet Franc 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Youthful, generous Hawke’s Bay blend of cabernet sauvignon (46%), merlot (38%), cabernet franc (11%) and malbec (5%), grown at Te Awanga (mostly) and in the Gimblett Gravels. Deeply coloured, mouthfilling and smooth, with strong, ripe blackcurrant, plum, herb and spice…
Comments Off on Clearview Old Olive Block Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Smoky bouquet, leading into a mouthfilling wine with deep, vibrant, grapefruit-like flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, and a long, harmonious finish. Rich, elegant and sweet-fruited, with excellent freshness, delicacy and depth. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Powerful wine, with accentuated smoke and ‘gunflint’ notes in the bouquet. Weighty, with bold, ripe stonefruit and toast flavours, impressive complexity, faintly buttery notes and excellent harmony. Best drinking 2017+.
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, concentrated, youthful Gisborne blend, from vines planted in 1985, oak-matured for 18 months. Deeply coloured, with rich, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, a hint of dark chocolate, and fine-grained tannins. Stylish, harmonious wine, well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Bridge Estate Cabernet Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Weighty, fleshy and smooth, with strong, vibrant peach, melon and spice flavours, a herbal undercurrent, and a subtle seasoning of oak adding complexity. Stylish wine, still youthful; best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Brancott Estate Letter Series R Marlborough Sauvignon Gris 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Highly fragrant bouquet, showing bottle-aged complexity. Full-bodied style (13% alc/vol) with generous, lemony, slightly spicy and toasty flavours, good acid spine and a dryish, lasting finish. Drinking well now.
Comments Off on Aurum Central Otago Riesling 2010 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
This ‘serious’ yet delicious Central Otago rosé was hand-picked from blocks grown for rosé and fermented to dryness. Bright pink, it is full-bodied and vivacious, with strong, fresh strawberry, plum and spice flavours, leesy notes adding complexity, and a poised,…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Bannockburn Pinot Noir Rosé 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Attractively perfumed, weighty, rich wine, estate-grown in the Waihopai Valley, hand-picked and fermented in small oak vessels. Fleshy, medium style with concentrated, peachy, spicy flavours, hints of ginger and honey, good complexity and a well-rounded, very harmonious finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Spy Valley Envoy Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Classy stuff. Mouthfilling, dry wine with pure, searching flavours of ripe melons and limes, and a slightly salty note adding complexity. Lovely poise, vibrancy and length.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 Swamp Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Opulent, seductively scented wine, handled with some indigenous yeast fermentation in old French oak cuves. Powerful (14.5% alc/vol), weighty, rich and complex, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit and spice flavours, a faintly honeyed influence, and an oily texture. Delicious from the…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Highly refined, beautifully scented and supple red, estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and French oak-matured for 18 months. Boldly coloured, with dense, very ripe plum and black pepper flavours, silky tannins and a lasting, finely…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Very powerful, rich, youthful wine, estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, hand-picked and barrel-fermented. Strong, ripe, peachy, spicy and slightly toasty flavours, with hints of fig and quince, impressive concentration and complexity, and a rounded finish….
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Finely balanced, mouthfilling red with fullish colour, well-integrated toasty oak, and fresh, moderately concentrated plum, spice and pepper flavours.
Comments Off on Kainui Road Northland Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dark and fleshy, with strong plum and spice flavours, hints of herbs, olives and licorice, and ripe, chewy tannins. (From Awaroa.)
Comments Off on Waiheke Road Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017