Posted: December 2, 2021
This single-vineyard, Gimblett Gravels red was matured for 10 months in French oak (new and seasoned.) Deeply coloured, it is vibrantly fruity and medium-bodied, with fresh acidity and strong, youthful, plummy, spicy flavours. Best drinking 2023+. $28
Comments Off on Saint Clair James Sinclair Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
From a variety cultivated in northern Italy, this attractive, easy-drinking red was estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for over a year in French oak casks (21% new). Deep and youthful in colour, it…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Marzemino Hawke’s Bay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Set for a long life, this classy red is more elegant, less rustic than many malbecs grown in New Zealand. Matured in French (mostly) and Hungarian oak barrels (38% new), it is a powerful wine, dark and full-bodied, with dense,…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this deeply coloured blend of cabernet sauvignon (68%) and merlot (32%) was matured in tanks and French oak barrels. Full-bodied, with a slightly earthy bouquet, it has strong, vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, showing considerable complexity,…
Comments Off on Saint Clair James Sinclair Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, this good value red includes malbec (10%) and merlot (3%). Deep and youthful in colour, it is sturdy and supple, with rich blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, hints of herbs…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Set to flourish over the long haul, this notably dense red is powerful, but certainly not ‘over the top’. Boldly coloured, it is sturdy, with beautifully ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, firm tannins beneath, and excellent harmony and fragrance….
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Prison Block Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This classy, youthful, claret-style Hawke’s Bay red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc, oak-matured for a year. Dark and purple-flushed, it is a powerful, full-bodied wine, with vibrant, well-ripened blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, finely balanced tannins,…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This elegant, youthful red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (34% new). Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, with blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent density, nutty, savoury notes adding…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Redstone Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This fragrant, savoury, smooth-flowing red is a blend of cabernet sauvignon (68%), estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, with merlot (24%) and malbec (8%), grown in the Gimblett Gravels. French oak-aged for 20 months, it is…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This youthful, medium-bodied red is deeply coloured, with a fresh, spicy bouquet. It has strong plum, spice and black pepper flavours, woven with fresh acidity, and an almost pinot noir-ish charm. $21
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dark and purple-flushed, this youthful, single-vineyard red was French oak-matured for six months. Vibrantly fruity, with a fresh, spicy, slightly earthy bouquet, it has clearly varietal, plummy, spicy, peppery flavours, generous and supple. Enjoyable young, it’s also worth cellaring. $28
Comments Off on Saint Clair James Sinclair Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Ruby hued, this single-vineyard red includes a splash of viognier (2%). Freshly aromatic, it is strongly varietal, with plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, supple tannins, and good complexity, vigour and harmony. Best drinking mid-2022+. $28
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this perfumed, vigorous, smooth-flowing red was estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured in French oak casks (36% new). Full-coloured, it has good density of plum and spice flavours, a hint of liquorice, fresh acidity and…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This classy young red is well worth cellaring. Oak-aged for a year, it is deeply coloured, with a fragrant, spicy, clearly varietal bouquet. Mouthfilling and well-structured, it is concentrated, with deep, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, fresh acidity, oak complexity and…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A top buy, this dark, floral red was grown in the Gimblett Gravels (principally) and the Bridge Pa Triangle, blended with malbec (14%), and matured for 18 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels (22% new). Still purple-flushed, with a…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This is a powerful, very age-worthy red, dark and rich. Estate-grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle (mostly) and the Gimblett Gravels, it was matured for 20 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels (33% new). Fragrant and fresh, it has…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Instantly appealing, this very graceful, youthful red was estate-grown and matured for 10 months in French oak barrels (30% new). Deeply coloured, it is fleshy, savoury and supple, with excellent flavour depth, vigour and harmony. Best drinking 2023+. $50
Comments Off on Askerne The Tere Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Aiming for a ‘fruit-driven’ style, this Gimblett Gravels red was matured in tanks and seasoned French oak barrels. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling and fruit-packed, with strong, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint of toasty oak, fresh acidity and supple tannins….
Comments Off on Saint Clair Origin Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this blend of merlot (92%) and cabernet sauvignon (8%) was grown mostly in the Bridge Pa Triangle and matured for a year in Hungarian and French oak (35% new). Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with generous,…
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, slightly earthy bouquet, this is a concentrated red. Full-bodied, it has strong, youthful, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, fresh acidity and ripe, supple tannins. Showing obvious potential, it’s well worth cellaring to…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Showing plenty of personality, this merlot-based blend (67%) was matured in oak barrels (20% new). Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with very good concentration of plummy, spicy flavours, showing good complexity, and finely balanced tannins. Best drinking 2023+. $25…
Comments Off on Askerne /Malbec/Cabernet Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Distinctly reminiscent of red Bordeaux, this fleshy, very harmonious red is dark and full-bodied, with vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, impressively complex and savoury, and supple, fine-grained tannins. Drink now or cellar. $28
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Dark and still purple-flushed, this fragrant, rich red was matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (54% new). Still very youthful, it has concentrated, plummy, spicy flavours, a hint of liquorice, fresh acidity, finely integrated oak and a well-rounded,…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Merlot-based, this softly mouthfilling rosé has pink/slight orange colour. Made in a very easy-drinking style, it has generous peach, strawberry and spice flavours, with an off-dry finish. $19
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Pale pink, this merlot-based rosé is lively and dry, with a touch of tannin and vigorous peachy, strawberryish and spicy flavours, showing good intensity. $25
Comments Off on Church Road Gwen Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Attractively perfumed and weighty, this fleshy, strongly varietal wine is youthful and vibrantly fruity, with rich, peachy, well-spiced flavours and an off-dry, lengthy finish. $25 (UK)
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Gewurztraminer 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Drinking well now, this Gimblett Gravels wine was fermented in seasoned French oak barriques. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and smooth, with generous, ripe, stone-fruit and spice flavours, a hint of apricot, slightly toasty notes adding complexity and a…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Origin Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Hand-picked at Havelock North, this youthful, vigorous wine was handled without oak. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and fleshy, with very good intensity of vibrant, ripe stone-fruit flavours, finely balanced acidity and a lasting finish. Best drinking mid-2022+. $25
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Chalk Ridge Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Probably at or nearing its peak, this pale gold wine was estate-grown in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and matured for 10 months in French oak barrels (25% new). Fleshy and full-bodied, it has concentrated, ripe, peachy,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Offering good value, this barrel-fermented wine is powerful, with rich, ripe, stone-fruit flavours, oak-derived complexity, gentle acidity and a slightly oily texture. Already drinking well, it should break into full stride mid-2022+. $25 (UK)
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Drinking well now, this wine was estate-grown in the relatively cool, elevated Matapiro district. Bright, light lemon/green, it is ripely scented, mouthfilling and vibrant, with tropical fruit flavours, crisp, dry and generous. $19
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Full of youthful vigour, this ripely scented, full-bodied wine has passionfruit and lime flavours, threaded with fresh acidity, and a crisp, dry, lingering finish. Best drinking 2022. $22 (UK)
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still unfolding, this hand-picked wine was partly fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak barrels. Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with ripe, tropical fruit flavours, showing very good intensity, a subtle seasoning of oak, and fresh,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Barrel Fermented Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Richly fragrant, weighty and sweet-fruited, this distinguished wine was estate-grown, principally in the Redstone Vineyard, in the Bridge Pa Triangle, hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (20% new). Still very youthful, it has notable depth of…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Barrel Fermented Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Invitingly scented, this lively, medium-bodied wine was estate-grown at Matapiro and hand-picked relatively early, in search of a ‘dry, mineral style’. Maturing well, it has fresh acidity, with strong, peachy, gently spicy flavours. $25
Comments Off on Church Road Gwen Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
If you enjoy the sturdy, fleshy, Alsace style of pinot gris, try this bargain-priced wine. Estate-grown at Matapiro and harvested late, with some berry shrivel, it is powerful and ripely scented, with generous stone-fruit and spice flavours, and a very…
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This impressively rich, Alsace-style pinot gris was estate-grown at Matapiro, harvested late with some berry shrivel, and fermented and lees-aged in French oak cuves. Light gold, it is sturdy, with concentrated peach, apricot and spice flavours, gentle sweetness, a distinct…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already drinking well, this is a powerful, full-bodied young wine, attractively scented. Fleshy, with distinct overtones of Alsace, it has concentrated, ripe, stone-fruit and spice flavours, and a dryish, lasting finish. $23 (UK)
Comments Off on Askerne Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
From a vineyard near Havelock North, this is a high-flavoured style, fermented and matured for 11 months in American oak casks (20% new). It has a fragrant, buttery bouquet, leading into a mouthfilling, sweet-fruited wine with ripe stone-fruit and toasty…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Select Vineyards Limeworks Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Offering great value, this ‘unashamedly just a little bit old school’ wine has a fragrant, complex bouquet. Mouthfilling, it has strong, peachy, gently toasty flavours, fresh acidity, and good harmony and immediacy. $19
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this wine was hand-picked in the Havelock North hills and barrel-fermented (French, 33% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it has very good concentration of fresh, peachy, citrusy flavours, slightly smoky and toasty notes adding complexity, and a tightly…
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Swamp Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already delicious, this powerful, generous wine was fermented and matured in French oak casks (44% new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied and creamy-textured, with ripe stone-fruit flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, balanced acidity and a harmonious finish. Drink now…
Comments Off on Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
A top vintage, this youthful, very finely balanced wine was fermented and matured for a year in French oak puncheons. Well worth cellaring, it is full-bodied, with concentrated, ripe stone-fruit flavours, showing impressive complexity and length, and a fragrant, slightly…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Unfolding well, this finely balanced wine was hand-picked, mostly in the Tuki Tuki Valley, and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (19% new). Currently delicious, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with strong, ripe, peachy flavours, complex,…
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, youthful wine should be long-lived. Grown mostly in the Tuki Tuki Valley and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (30% new), it has a fragrant, distinctly smoky bouquet. Full-bodied, with rich, ripe stone-fruit flavours, seasoned with…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This pale gold, flavour-packed wine was hand-picked in the Tuki Tuki Valley and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak casks (21% new). A powerful, complex style, it has highly concentrated, peachy flavours, enriched with toasty oak, fresh…
Comments Off on Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Tuki Tuki Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Likely to be long-lived, this classy wine was hand-picked and fermented and matured in French oak barrels (28% new). Light lemon/green, with a fragrant, complex bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with deep, youthful, peachy, citrusy flavours, oak richness, a slightly creamy…
Comments Off on Askerne The Archer Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021