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
Deeply coloured, floral, very fresh and vibrant Matakana red with blackberry, plum and spice flavours, ripe, supple tannins and a savoury oak influence (French, 65% new.)
Comments Off on Mahurangi River Reserve 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
Posted: June 9, 2017
Estate-grown, this Northland red is maturing well. Full and moderately youthful in colour, it has strong, savoury, nutty flavours, showing excellent balance and length.
Comments Off on Okahu Syrah 2010 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant and deeply coloured, with good weight and ripe, plum and black pepper flavours, strong and smooth. Youthful, strongly varietal style that lingers well.
Comments Off on Awaroa Waiheke Island Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Powerful, rich, vibrant Waiheke Island red with good weight, strong, fresh, plum and spice flavours and supple tannins. Well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Goldie Reserve Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Highly fragrant, deeply coloured Waiheke Island red. ‘Serious’ but delicious red with lovely weight and depth of plum and spice flavours, youthful and lasting. Should be long-lived.
Comments Off on Awaroa Melba Peach Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Moderately mature Northland blend of cabernet franc (70%) and cabernet sauvignon (30%), handled in French and American oak. Mouthfilling, with berry, spice and dried herb flavours, showing good depth, and ‘barnyard’ notes adding complexity.
Comments Off on Sailfish Cove The Cabernets Malbec 2010 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dark, medium-bodied red with strong berry and plum flavours, showing some savoury, spicy complexity, and a firm finish.
Comments Off on Peacock Sky Pure Waiheke Island Malbec 2012 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Maturing well, this Northland red offers strong, plummy, slightly herbal and nutty flavours, with the rustic, earthy notes typical of pinotage, some savoury complexity and a smooth finish.
Comments Off on Waitapu Estate Reef Point Pinotage 2010 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Deeply coloured, full-bodied red with very good depth of ripe, spicy flavours and gentle tannins. Fresh, easy drinking.
Comments Off on Marsden Bay of Islands Chambourcin 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Lively, medium-bodied, buoyantly fruity red, estate-grown in west Auckland, with fresh, ripe, berryish, slightly spicy flavours, gentle tannins and good concentration.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek SV Huapai Guido in Velvet Pants Montepulciano 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Concentrated, youthful Northland blend of cabernet franc (51%), cabernet sauvignon (38%) and malbec (11%). Strong, ripe blackcurrant, spice and red berry flavours, with toast and cigar box notes adding complexity. Well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Paroa Bay Bay of Islands CMC Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Full-coloured Waiheke Island blend of cabernet sauvignon (65%), merlot (25%) and malbec (10%). Strong, plummy, spicy, slightly herbal flavours, with well-handled oak and ripe tannins.
Comments Off on Awaroa Requiem Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Firmly structured Waiheke Island blend of cabernet sauvignon (63%), cabernet franc (26%) and malbec (11%). Strong, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, with hints of herbs, and good cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Peacock Sky Le Coté de la Colline Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dark, youthful Matakana red with concentrated, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours. Savoury and complex, with a seasoning of toasty, nutty French oak (85% new) and good cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Mahurangi River Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Dark, rich blend of merlot (84%) and Malbec (16%). Weighty and firmly structured, with concentrated blackcurrant and plum flavours, hints of dried herbs and spices, and obvious cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Peacock Sky Waiheke Island Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Deeply coloured Northland red, mouthfilling and firm, with strong blackberry, plum and spice flavours, good complexity and a perfumed bouquet.
Comments Off on Marsden Bay of Islands The Winemakers Daughter Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Full-coloured Auckland red with fresh, strong, plummy flavours, showing good ripeness, fine-grained tannins, and well-integrated oak (French and American).
Comments Off on Mahurangi River Matakana Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Pale red, syrah-based rosé with lively, berryish flavours and a finely balanced, smooth finish. Attractive, easy drinking. (From Okahu Estate
Comments Off on Shipwreck Bay Northland Rosé 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Full-bodied style with a gentle splash of sweetness, ripe, peachy flavours, a slightly oily texture and a rounded finish. Drinking well now.
Comments Off on Ashwood Estate Late Harvest Gisborne Pinot Gris (375ml) 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fresh, full-bodied, slightly sweet wine, balanced for easy drinking, with ripe, peachy, gently spicy flavours. (From Okahu Estate.)
Comments Off on Shipwreck Bay Flora Northland Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Crisp, tight, lively Northland wine. Weighty, sweet-fruited style, showing good vigour, varietal definition and freshness.
Comments Off on Paroa Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Aromatic, slightly spicy bouquet. Mouthfilling, crisp and lively, with youthful, ripe, citrusy flavours and a powerful, dry finish.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Verdelho 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Estate-grown at Mangere, in Auckland, this pale, perfumed wine is weighty, very fresh and smooth, with well-defined lychee and pear flavours. Refined and youthful.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Gewurztraminer 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fleshy and creamy-textured, with some richness of ripe, stonefruit flavours and a dry, well-rounded finish. A great buy.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Private Bin Gisborne Viognier 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Scented, full-bodied and dry, with concentrated, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, finely balanced and lingering. One judge scored it five stars.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek SV The Little Rascal Gisborne Arneis 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Scented and fleshy, with ripe, slightly sweet flavours of nashi, melon and pear, showing good delicacy and depth.
Comments Off on Kainui Road Northland Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Pale straw, with a spicy bouquet, mouthfilling body, a slightly oily texture and ripe, peachy flavours, showing good depth. Fermented in large, 2500-litre oak ovals. Ready.
Comments Off on Ashwood Estate Gisborne Pinot Gris 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fleshy and finely balanced, with peachy, gently spicy flavours, showing very good depth, a sliver of sweetness and fresh acidity.
Comments Off on Marsden Bay of Islands Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, weighty, Alsace-style pinot gris with fresh, ripe stonefruit, pear and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy and richness, and an off-dry finish. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Kapiro Vineyard Northland Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Restrainted, youthful wine, estate-grown at Mangere, in Auckland, and barrel-fermented. Fresh, citrusy, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, showing very good balance and depth, with gentle, nutty, mealy notes adding complexity.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Upfront style from Northland with sweet-fruit characters and citrusy, slightly oaky flavours, showing very good depth.
Comments Off on Paroa Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Full-bodied and creamy-textured, with fresh, concentrated, peachy fruit flavours and finely integrated oak (20 per cent new.)
Comments Off on Mahurangi River Field of Grace Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, complex bouquet. Mouthfilling, with youthful, ripe stonefruit flavours and buttery, toasty notes adding richness. Barrel-fermented style, with good weight and concentration. Smoky bouquet, with a distinct hint of ‘burnt match’, leading into a weighty, rich palate with vibrant grapefruit,…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Fragrant, complex bouquet. Mouthfilling, with youthful, ripe stonefruit flavours and buttery, toasty notes adding richness. Barrel-fermented style, with good weight and concentration.
Comments Off on Ashwood Estate Gisborne Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017
Posted: June 9, 2017
Stylish Matakana wine, mouthfilling, complex and savoury. Concentrated and sweet-fruited, with grapefruit-like flavours and a finely structured, lasting finish. Ageworthy style, rated highly by all judges.
Comments Off on Mahurangi River Field of Grace Reserve Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 9, 2017