Posted: November 30, 2021
From a variety cultivated in northern Italy, this deeply coloured, easy-drinking red was estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 14 months in French oak casks (21% new). Fresh and full-bodied, it has strong,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Marzemino 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This youthful, ageworthy red was estate-grown and matured for a year in French oak barrels (30% new). Fragrant and full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with fresh berryish, herbal, spicy flavours, showing good concentration and complexity, and a smooth finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Enjoyable young, this deeply coloured red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (59%) and merlot (41% ), matured in tanks and French oak barrels (partly new). It has a fresh, vibrantly fruity bouquet, leading into a full-bodied wine with very…
Comments Off on Saint Clair James Sinclair Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Priced right, this vibrant blend of cabernet sauvignon (68%) and merlot (32%) was matured for 15 months in French oak hogsheads (36% new). Full-bodied and deeply coloured, it has strong, ripe blackcurrant and plum flavours, gently seasoned with nutty oak,…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This very youthful, ageworthy red was grown at two sites and matured for 20 months in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is fresh and full-bodied, with vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, a herbal thread, and good concentration. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this is a single-vineyard, Gimblett Gravels blend of cabernet sauvignon (55%), merlot (41%) and malbec (4%), matured for 10 months in French oak casks (35% new). Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, fresh, slightly herbal bouquet, it is mouthfilling,…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Cabernet Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful, very ageworthy red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (62%), merlot (24%) and cabernet franc (14%), matured for a year in French oak barriques. Deeply coloured, it is fragrant, with strong, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours and…
Comments Off on Mission Barrique Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Maturing very gracefully, this full-bodied red was hand-harvested from 21-year-old vines in the Mere Road Vineyard. Full-coloured, it is fleshy, with concentrated, vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, and a smooth, harmonious finish. Best drinking 2022+….
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This very ageworthy, harmonious red was grown mostly in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 18 months in French (principally) and Hungarian oak barrels (30% new). Dark and youthful, it is mouthfilling, with concentrated blackcurrant,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This is a great buy. From two sites in the Gimblett Gravels, it was matured for a year in French oak casks (25% new). Deeply coloured, with a fragrant bouquet, it is full-bodied, with generous, ripe flavours of blackcurrants and…
Comments Off on Mission Barrique Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Fresh and youthful, this single-vineyard red was grown at Maraekakaho and matured for a year in French oak casks (25% new). Medium-bodied, it is vibrantly fruity and supple, with plum and spice flavours, gently seasoned with oak, and very good…
Comments Off on Volcanic Hills Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Delicious in its youth, this mouthfilling, supple red was grown principally (80%) at sites near Gimblett Road and matured in French oak barriques (18% new). Skilfully crafted, it is full-coloured, with good concentration of ripe, plummy, spicy flavours and a…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this single-vineyard red was matured for 20 months in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is vibrant and supple, in a youthful, medium-bodied style with plum, spice and black pepper flavours showing excellent depth. Strongly varietal, with fresh acidity,…
Comments Off on Vidal Soler Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Bright ruby, this vibrant red was grown at two sites and matured for a year in French oak barrels (14% new). A refined, medium-bodied wine, it has plummy, spicy, slightly peppery flavours, showing good complexity, finely balanced tannins and a…
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This very youthful red was grown in the Gimblett Gravels and partly barrel-aged. Full-coloured, with a fresh, strong, peppery bouquet, it is full-bodied and vibrantly fruity, with a slightly earthy streak and good intensity of plum, spice and black pepper…
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Raptor Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Highly approachable in its youth, but also worth cellaring, this mouthfilling, sweet-fruited red was matured for over a year in French oak casks (38% new). Full-coloured, it has generous, ripe, berryish, spicy flavours, with finely integrated oak adding complexity and…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, this deeply coloured, fragrant red was hand-picked on the Takapau Plains and matured for nine months in French oak barrels (33% new). Full-bodied, with a spicy bouquet, showing good complexity, it has concentrated, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint…
Comments Off on Junction Offside Central Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Delicious young, this vibrant, supple red was harvested from mature vines and matured for over a year in French oak puncheons and barriques (15% new). Full-coloured, it is medium to full-bodied, with concentrated, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, showing good complexity,…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, this floral, spicy red was grown in the Gimblett Gravels (principally) and the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 18 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels (22% new). Deeply coloured, it is fragrant, mouthfilling, rich and supple,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Combining power and grace, this dark, single-vineyard red was hand-harvested and matured for 20 months in French oak barrels (33% new). Fragrant and finely textured, with blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, and ripe, supple tannins, it’s…
Comments Off on Squawking Magpie Gimblett Gravels Stoned Crow Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of potential, this deeply coloured, finely structured red was estate-grown principally in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, but also in the Gimblett Gravels, and matured for 20 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels (33% new)….
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Grown in the Gimblett Gravels, this is a youthful red, full-coloured, with mouthfilling body and good concentration of ripe, berryish, spicy flavours. A well-structured, ageworthy wine, it should break into full stride 2022+. $25 (UK)
Comments Off on Saint Clair Origin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still fresh and youthful, this blend of merlot (52%), malbec (28%) and cabernet sauvignon (20%) was grown in the Gimblett Gravels. Matured for 14 months in American oak casks (50% new), it has a fragrant, spicy bouquet, leading into a…
Comments Off on Pask Small Batch Trilliant Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still fresh and youthful, this vibrant red was hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak casks (25% new). Deeply coloured, it is full-bodied, with strong red berry, plum and spice flavours, a hint of herbs, finely balanced tannins…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering good value, this is a sturdy, full-coloured red with strong, ripe berry, plum and spice flavours, savoury notes adding complexity and finely balanced tannins. Already drinking well, it’s also well worth cellaring. $22
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Drinking well in its youth, this is a blend of principally merlot (34%), cabernet franc (28%) and malbec (28%), with minor amounts of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Matured for over a year in oak barrels (43% new), it is…
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Franc Malbec 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This sturdy, surprisingly youthful red is a single-vineyard blend of merlot (86%), malbec (10%) and cabernet franc (4%), matured for 20 months in French oak casks (33% new). It has bold, bright colour and a fragrant, fresh bouquet, with a…
Comments Off on Squawking Magpie The Nest Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This deeply coloured, vibrant, single-vineyard red was matured for 10 months in French oak casks (33% new). Fleshy and full-bodied, it has concentrated, ripe, plummy, spicy, nutty flavours, showing good freshness and complexity, and a smooth finish. Well worth cellaring….
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This medium to full-bodied red was hand-picked in the Mere Road Vineyard and matured for 17 months in French oak casks (34% new). Sweet-fruited, it has strong blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, with savoury oak adding complexity, and a smooth…
Comments Off on Mills Reef Elspeth Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful, this is a deeply coloured, mouthfilling red with fresh, concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, finely structured and sustained. Best drinking 2022+. $30
Comments Off on Leveret Estate Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still extremely youthful, this is a blend of principally merlot (43%) and cabernet sauvignon (31%), with smaller amounts of cabernet franc and malbec. Matured for 10 months in oak barrels (47% new), it is deeply coloured, full-bodied and savoury, with…
Comments Off on Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This rich, savoury, smooth red is still unfolding. Merlot-based (92%), with a splash of cabernet sauvignon (8%), it was grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle (mostly) and the Gimblett Gravels, and matured for 18 months in Hungarian and French oak…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful, yet very approachable, red is a blend of merlot (74%) and cabernet sauvignon (26%), grown in the Gimblett Gravels (mostly) and the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 18 months in French oak barrels (41% new). It has…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This fragrant, fresh and lively Hawke’s Bay bubbly is a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, disgorged after a minimum of 18 months on its yeast lees. Bright, light yellow, it has citrusy, biscuity, gently yeasty flavours, showing…
Comments Off on Leveret IQ Premium Brut NV / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This vivacious bubbly was made from chardonnay, hand-picked at Haumoana, bottle-fermented and lees-aged for four years. Bright, light yellow/green, with a nutty, yeasty fragrance, it has strong, vibrant, citrusy, biscuity flavours, showing excellent complexity, and an appetisingly fresh, crisp, dry…
Comments Off on Church Road Méthode Traditionnelle Hawke’s Bay Blanc de Blanc 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This delicious, distinctive wine was hand-picked at Matapiro, and fermented and lees-matured for nine months in French and Hungarian oak barrels (50% new). Golden and robust (15% alc/vol), it has beautifully ripe, peachy, spicy, gently honeyed flavours, balanced acidity, a…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Noble Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Powerful, this is a sweet but not super-sweet wine, estate-grown, hand-picked and fermented and matured for 20 months in oak barrels (25% new). Gold/amber, it is mouthfilling and complex, with concentrated peach, apricot and honey aromas and flavours, lively acidity…
Comments Off on Askerne Noble Hawke’s Bay Semillon 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, this gold/amber wine has an inviting, honeyed fragrance. Weighty and rich, it has highly concentrated, peachy, spicy flavours, enriched but not swamped by botrytis, finely balanced acidity, an oily texture and a sweet, seductively smooth finish $24 (375ml)
Comments Off on Askerne Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This rare wine (70 cases) is full of personality. Hand-harvested and partly barrel-fermented, it is aromatic and weighty, with fresh, intense, citrusy, spicy flavours, slightly toasty notes, lively acidity and a lasting, dry finish. Best drinking 2021+. $39
Comments Off on Lime Rock Central Hawke’s Bay Grüner Veltliner 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, but also very ageworthy, this single-vineyard wine was hand-harvested at Maraekakaho, fermented in tanks and large French oak casks, and matured for 10 months on its yeast lees. Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied, with vibrant, ripe, tropical…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Hand-harvested on the Takapau Plains, this bright, light, lemon/green wine is scented and lively. Medium-bodied, it has good intensity of citrusy, limey flavours and a crisp, medium-dry finish. Best drinking mid-2021+. $22
Comments Off on Junction Runaway Central Hawke’s Bay Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This is a weighty, complex, non-herbaceous style of sauvignon blanc, partly (33%) fermented with indigenous yeasts in old oak barriques. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling, with youthful, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, integrated oak, fresh acidity and obvious potential. Best…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Barrel Fermented Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful, this characterful wine is a blend of sauvignon blanc (77%), Semillon (13%) and sauvignon gris (10%). Although mostly handled in tanks, 40% was fermented and matured for eight months in oak barrels (21% new). Bright, light lemon/green, it…
Comments Off on Askerne Sauvignon Blanc//Sauvignon Gris Hawke’s Bay Semillon 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of personality, this oak-aged wine is already delicious. Estate-grown mostly in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, with some fruit from Matapiro, it was hand-harvested and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (20% new). Bright,…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Barrel Fermented Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Exotically perfumed, this powerful, very youthful wine was handled entirely in tanks. Bright, light lemon/green, it is a mouthfilling, distinctly medium style, with strong, finely balanced peach, pear and spice flavours and a lengthy, well-spiced finish. Best drinking 2022+. $30
Comments Off on Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Delicious young, this light lemon/green wine is an off-dry style, perfumed and mouthfilling, with peach, lychee and spice flavours, fresh and rich, a hint of ginger, gentle acidity and a long, spicy, well-rounded finish. $24
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this wine was hand-picked and fermented in French oak casks (20 per cent new). Pale lemon/green, it is full-bodied, fresh and lively, with youthful, ripe, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, gently seasoned with oak. Best drinking mid-2021+. $24
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021