Posted: December 2, 2021
Still purple-flushed, this rich, youthful, single-vineyard red was grown at Rapaura. Full-bodied, it has strong, plummy, gently spicy and nutty flavours, seasoned with sweet oak, a hint of liquorice and ripe, supple tannins. Best drinking 2022+. $70
Comments Off on Saint Clair Rapaura Reserve Marlborough Merlot 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Who says you can’t grow great syrah in Marlborough? This very classy red is boldly coloured, with a fragrant, spicy bouquet. Still very youthful, it has concentrated plum, spice and black pepper flavours, seasoned with oak, a hint of liquorice,…
Comments Off on Giesen Single Vineyard Selection Clayvin Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Grown in the Southern Valleys, this is a top example of South Island syrah. Full-coloured, it is highly fragrant and full-bodied, with ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, hints of liquorice and nutty oak, fresh acidity, and excellent complexity and density. Still…
Comments Off on Giesen Limited Edition Organic Marlborough Syrah 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Offering great value, this bright ruby, attractively scented red is softly mouthfilling, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing some savoury complexity. Drink now-2023. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still unfolding, this bright ruby, barrel-aged red is mouthfilling, with good depth of cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing some savoury complexity. Fine value. $19 (A)
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Falcon Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Enjoyable young, this graceful red is bright ruby, mouthfilling and supple, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing some savoury notes, and very good depth. (From Lawson’s Dry Hills). $20
Comments Off on Inviniti Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Ruby hued, this single-vineyard red is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with youthful, moderately concentrated cherry, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, and slightly savoury notes adding complexity. Best drinking mid-2021+. Certified organic. $30
Comments Off on Babich Family Estates Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This graceful, youthful red was matured in French oak barriques (15 per cent new). Attractively scented, it is full-bodied and sweet-fruited, with strong, fresh cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing very good complexity, and ripe, supple tannins. Best drinking 2022+….
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this Wairau Valley wine was matured for a year in French oak casks (10% new). Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak adding complexity and ripe, supple tannins. Best…
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this vibrant red was grown mostly in the Eyrie Vineyard, in the Waihopai Valley, and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques. Bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, with strong, fresh cherry, plum and spice flavours, well-integrated…
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Raptor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This bold, youthful red was grown in the Southern Valleys and matured in French oak puncheons (24% new). Full-coloured, it is freshly scented and vibrantly fruity, with generous, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, gently seasoned with oak, and supple…
Comments Off on Giesen Uncharted Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Bargain-priced, this single-vineyard, Southern Valleys red was matured in an even mix of tanks and French oak barriques. Bright ruby, it is full-bodied, with fresh, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, balanced acidity, supple tannins, and very good harmony and…
Comments Off on Delta Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown in the upper Awatere Valley, this deep ruby red is still fresh and fairly youthful. Mouthfilling and supple, it has deep, vibrant, plummy, spicy, slightly herbal flavours, lively acidity and very good complexity. Best drinking 2022+. $60
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
From the south bank of the Awatere River, this still youthful, ruby hued, savoury red is medium-bodied, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, a slightly earthy streak adding complexity, and ripe, supple tannins. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Likely to be long-lived, this boldly coloured, savoury red is from a warm site at the base of the hills on the south side of the Wairau Valley. A powerful, youthful wine, it has strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 22 Barn Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still youthful, this powerful red was grown in the Waihopai Valley and matured for 16 months in French oak barriques (25 per cent new). Deeply coloured, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong, ripe plum, cherry and spice flavours, seasoned with…
Comments Off on Lawson’s Dry Hills The Pioneer Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, fine value red should be long-lived. Grown at Omaka, in the Southern Valleys, it was hand-picked and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (25% new). Deeply coloured, it is full-bodied, with concentrated, well-ripened cherry, plum and…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
From a single vineyard in the Southern Valleys, this concentrated red shows obvious potential for cellaring. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling and fruit-packed, with rich, vibrant berry and spice flavours, savoury notes adding complexity, and ripe, supple tannins. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Delta Hatters Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Certified organic, this classy red was grown in the Southern Valleys. Deep ruby, it is powerful and very savoury, with concentrated, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing impressive complexity. Still youthful, it should be at its best 2022+. $60
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard The Attorney Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Maturing very gracefully, this deep ruby red was grown on the south side of the Wairau Valley and matured in French oak barriques (23% new). Finely perfumed, full-bodied and still full of youthful vigour, it has rich cherry, plum and…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, youthful red was hand-harvested in the Awatere Valley and the Southern Valleys, and matured in French oak barriques (22% new). Deep ruby, it is full-bodied and savoury, with deep cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours , slightly earthy…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, concentrated, single-vineyard red was grown in the Southern Valleys and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (25 per cent new). Deeply coloured and weighty, it has rich cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, complex and savoury,…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Designed as ‘a mindful blend of what our single-vineyard wines offer as a composite’, this is a beautifully perfumed, deep ruby red, full-bodied, with generous, savoury, complex flavours and a finely textured, long finish. Currently delicious, it should be long-lived….
Comments Off on FROMM Cuvée ‘H’ Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Delicious now, but still unfolding, this single-vineyard red was grown in the Wairau Valley. Full-coloured, with a fragrant, complex bouquet, it is a mouthfilling, very generous wine, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, and a rich, finely balanced, smooth…
Comments Off on Ara Resolute Organic Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Very fresh and lively, this bright pink, medium-bodied wine has gentle, strawberryish, slightly spicy and peachy flavours, balanced acidity and an off-dry, smooth finish. $16 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Allan Scott Marlborough Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This bold, weighty wine was French oak-matured for eight months. Bright, light yellow, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours, balanced acidity and a slightly buttery, smooth finish. $22 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Allan Scott [Black Label] Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This youthful, very easy-drinking wine has fresh, pear-like aromas. Vibrantly fruity, it has very good depth of peach, pear and spice flavours, with an off-dry, smooth finish. $16 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Allan Scott Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
From a coastal site 70km south of Blenheim, this freshly aromatic wine is full of youthful vigour and drive. Medium to full-bodied, it has impressive intensity of melon, herb and green capsicum flavours, with a crisp, lengthy finish. $22
Comments Off on Allan Scott [Black Label] Kekerengu Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This floral, bright pink wine is instantly appealing. It has very good depth of fresh, vibrant strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, finely poised for early consumption. $19
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Falcon Marlborough Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This lively, medium-bodied wine was made from pinot noir, grown in the Awatere Valley. Pale pink, it is vibrantly fruity, with delicate, ripe strawberry, watermelon and red berry flavours, fresh acidity and a basically dry finish. $30
Comments Off on Awatere River Spindrift Single Vineyard Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Bright pink, this full-bodied wine was made from pinot noir, hand-picked at Rapaura and briefly lees-aged. Showing strong personality, it has abundant peach, strawberry and spice flavours, fresh and lively, and a crisp, dry, lasting finish. Certified organic. $25 (A,…
Comments Off on Rock Ferry Orchard Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already delicious and showing unusual depth for rosé, this is a Marlborough blend of pinot noir and pinot gris. Bright pink, it is freshly scented and mouthfilling, with vibrant strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, strong, dry and lingering. $25
Comments Off on Lawson’s Dry Hills Pink Pinot Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This vivacious Marlborough bubbly is a blend of chardonnay (50%), pinot noir (46%) and pinot meunier (4%), disgorged after 18 months on its yeast lees. Pale straw, it has strong, citrusy, biscuity, yeasty flavours, showing very good complexity, and a…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Miru Miru NV / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This richly flavoured sparkling was blended from pinot noir (49%), chardonnay (36%) and pinot meunier (15%), and disgorged after over three years on its yeast lees. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with strong, peachy, yeasty, slightly nutty…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Miru Miru Reserve 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Light and lively, this is a refined, very low alcohol wine (7% alc/vol), with abundant sweetness (92 grams/litre residual sugar), balanced by appetising acidity. Pale lemon/green, with citrusy, appley flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, and a long, very harmonious…
Comments Off on FROMM Riesling Spatlese 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this crisp, medium-bodied wine was partly barrel-fermented. Pale and tangy, it has very good vigour and intensity of vibrant, citrusy, gently spicy flavours. Best drinking 2022+. $29 (UK)
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 29 Blind Block Albariño Awatere Valley 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This distinctive wine is a blend of pinot gris, riesling and gewürztraminer, harvested on the same day and co-fermented with indigenous yeasts in old French barriques. Still very youthful, it is medium-bodied, with good intensity of fresh, vigorous pear, citrus…
Comments Off on Lawson’s Dry Hills Ranu Marlborough 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already drinking well, this Wairau Valley wine was tank-fermented and then briefly matured in seasoned French oak barriques. Very fresh and lively, with a fragrant, citrusy bouquet, it has strong grapefruit and peach flavours, gently seasoned with biscuity oak, considerable…
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Falcon Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already drinking well, this single-vineyard wine is pale straw, with a fragrant, slightly biscuity bouquet. Weighty, it has ripe stone-fruit flavours, showing good complexity, balanced acidity and a slightly creamy texture. Certified organic. $25
Comments Off on Babich Family Estates Organic Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This attractive Wairau Valley wine is full-bodied and creamy-textured, with strong, fresh, citrusy, peachy flavours, gently seasoned with oak, and finely balanced acidity. Best drinking 2022+. $22
Comments Off on Ara Single Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Made in a powerful, ‘upfront’ style, this Omaka Valley wine has a nutty, biscuity bouquet. Full-bodied, with concentrated, peachy, citrusy flavours, strongly seasoned with oak, it is youthful, with a rich, creamy-smooth finish. Best drinking 2022+. $40 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this vibrant, medium-bodied wine was hand-harvested from mature vines at Rapaura, and fermented and matured in large (900 litres) French oak casks (30% new). Bright, light lemon/green, it has intense stonefruit flavours, seasoned with biscuity oak, very…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Offshoot Marlborough Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Offering fine value, this refined, generous wine was grown at Rapaura, Renwick and Omaka, and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak puncheons (15% new). Fresh, vibrant and full-bodied, it has strong, ripe, citrusy, peachy flavours, showing excellent…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Instantly appealing, this wine was hand-picked in the Wairau Valley and Southern Valleys, and fermented in a combination of French oak hogsheads and puncheons, and large (1000 litres) German oak barrels. An elegant, lively wine with a slightly creamy bouquet,…
Comments Off on Giesen Uncharted Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This youthful, very ageworthy wine has a fragrant, complex, slightly biscuity bouquet. Weighty, with generous, peachy, citrusy, mealy flavours, it is complex and savoury, with a creamy-textured, very harmonious and lingering finish. Best drinking 2022+. $40
Comments Off on Giesen Organic Marlborough Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Enjoyable young, this attractively perfumed wine was estate-grown in the lower Awatere Valley. Pale lemon/green, it is medium-bodied, with soft, gently sweet peach, pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing very good delicacy and depth. $22
Comments Off on Loveblock Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Grown in the lower Brancott Valley, this exotically perfumed, mouthfilling wine has rich, ripe flavours of peaches, lychees and spices, with a fresh, off-dry finish. Still very youthful, it should be at its best 2022+. $35
Comments Off on Saint Clair Godfrey’s Creek Reserve Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Showing unusual complexity for gewürztraminer, this estate-grown wine was harvested from mature, 20 to 40 year-old vines, and fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned French oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, with a youthful, highly perfumed bouquet, it is notably concentrated,…
Comments Off on Lawson’s Dry Hills The Pioneer Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Full of youthful vigour, this finely poised, single-vineyard wine was harvested early, to achieve a low alcohol style (10% alc/vol). Tangy, tightly structured and gently sweet, it is light and lively, with strong, lemony, appley flavours. A medium style, it…
Comments Off on Lake Chalice Marlborough Riesling 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this attractively scented, single-vineyard wine was grown at Rapaura, on the north side of the Wairau Valley. Pale lemon/green, it has strong, citrusy, appley flavours, just a hint of sweetness, and an appetisingly crisp, lingering finish. Open…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Marlborough Riesling 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021