Posted: July 21, 2022
Likely to be long-lived, this is a powerful, sweet-fruited red, with impressive density. Deeply coloured, it is weighty and vibrant, with concentrated, berryish, spicy flavours, a vague hint of liquorice, savoury, nutty notes adding complexity, and a well-structured finish. Best…
Comments Off on Obsidian Reserve Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This distinctive, fruit-packed red is full of youthful vigour. Fragrant, with deep, purple-flushed colour, it is mouthfilling, with strong, vibrant, plummy, spicy flavours, a gentle seasoning of oak adding savoury, complex notes, fresh acidity and good tannin support. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Already drinking well, this is an elegant, very harmonious red. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with strong, fresh, plummy, gently spicy flavours, savoury notes adding complexity, and a smooth finish. Best drinking 2024+. $36
Comments Off on Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Syrah 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This elegant Cabernet/Merlot blend is already drinking well, but worth cellaring. Estate-grown at Onetangi, it is full-coloured, fresh and fragrant. Mouthfilling, it is distinctly Bordeaux-like, with strong blackcurrant, plum and red berry flavours, seasoned with nutty oak, good complexity, and…
Comments Off on Obsidian Vitreous Waiheke Island 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This refined, blended red is based on cabernet franc, with smaller amounts of petit verdot and malbec. It has deep, purple-flushed colour and a fragrant, fresh bouquet, revealing good complexity. Mouthfilling, it is concentrated and very vibrant, with youthful, ripe…
Comments Off on Obsidian Reserve The Mayor Waiheke Island 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Fleshy and rich, this deeply coloured blend of merlot (60%) and cabernet sauvignon (40%) was hand-picked in the Bridge Pa Triangle and stonier sites near Roys Hill. Matured for 20 months in French oak barriques (partly new), it is mouthfilling,…
Comments Off on Radburnd Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2019 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Still very youthful, this graceful red was grown mostly in the Southern Valleys, hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak barrels. Deep, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and savoury, with strong, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours,…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Certified organic, this finely textured red was estate-grown, hand-picked, matured for a year in oak barrels (20% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Ruby hued, it is a floral, seductive wine, with cherryish, spicy, nutty flavours, very savoury and supple,…
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This very refined, savoury red was estate-grown, principally at Parkburn, in the Cromwell Basin (85%), but also at Gibbston (15%). Matured for 10 months in French oak casks (33% new), it is a bright ruby, highly approachable wine, with deep,…
Comments Off on Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This highly perfumed red was hand-picked at Alexandra and barrel-aged for 10 months. Full, bright ruby, it is a distinctive, weighty wine with strong, vibrant cherry, plum, herb and spice flavours, showing good complexity, and supple tannins. A powerful, youthful…
Comments Off on McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Alexandra Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Instantly attractive, this bright pink, freshly scented wine has red berry, plum and strawberry flavours, showing very good delicacy and vibrancy, finely balanced acidity and a basically dry, smooth finish. $17
Comments Off on Sileni Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This classy, pinot noir-based rosé was made with some use of barrel fermentation. Bright pink, it is attractively scented, with strong, lively peach, spice and watermelon flavours, a hint of apricot, and a sliver of sweetness, balanced by fresh acidity….
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Rosé 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Attractively scented, this bright pink rosé was made from pinot noir, hand-picked at altitude in Alexandra. Mouthfilling, it has strong, vibrant flavours of strawberries, peaches and spices, a vague hint of sweetness and a fresh, crisp, lengthy finish. Full of…
Comments Off on McArthur Ridge Lilico Alexandra Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This vivacious Marlborough blend of pinot noir (57%), chardonnay (34%) and pinot meunier (9%) was disgorged after over four years on its yeast lees. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant, with concentrated, citrusy, peachy flavours, yeasty and biscuity notes adding…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Miru Miru Reserve 2017 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Enjoyable young, this partly barrel-fermented wine was estate-grown in Gibbston. Bright, light lemon/green, it is medium-bodied, with strong, vibrant, peachy flavours, gentle sweetness, fresh acidity, and an invitingly scented bouquet. $27 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Gris 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This vigorous, very youthful wine was estate-grown and hand-picked. Bright, light lemon/green, it is light-bodied, with fresh, citrusy, slightly appley flavours, showing excellent delicacy and intensity, a sliver of sweetness balanced by mouth-watering acidity, and a finely balanced, lingering finish….
Comments Off on Butterworth Te Muna Martinborough Dry Riesling 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This distinctly cool-climate, very ageworthy chardonnay was grown at Pisa and Bendigo, and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (10% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is fragrant and savoury, with youthful, citrusy, peachy flavours, firm acid…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Chardonnay 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This very harmonious wine was fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with fresh, peachy, slightly mealy flavours, showing very good concentration, and finely balanced oak and acidity. Drink…
Comments Off on Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Offering fine value, this youthful wine was grown at Rapaura and Omaka, and fermented and matured for a year in French oak puncheons (25% new). Bright, light yellow/green, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with generous, peachy, citrusy flavours, showing very…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Certified organic, this classy young wine was hand-picked, and fermented and matured for a year in French oak puncheons (25% new). Mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, it is a youthful, elegant wine, with strong, vibrant stonefruit flavours, finely integrated oak, and excellent…
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This outstanding, highly refined wine was hand-harvested at Mangatahi and in the Bridge Pa Triangle, and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (new and one year-old). Bright, light yellow/green, it is richly fragrant and weighty, with…
Comments Off on Radburnd Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This classy wine is already delicious, but well worth cellaring. Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, savoury bouquet, it is weighty, with rich, ripe stonefruit flavours, mealy and biscuity notes adding excellent complexity, and a smooth, seamless finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Obsidian Reserve Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Forward in its appeal, this is a strongly varietal wine with fresh, green-edged aromas. Lively, it has passionfruit and green capsicum flavours, showing good depth, and a smooth finish. $19 (A)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate The Luminary Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
Drinking well now, but still unfolding, this estate-grown wine was fermented and lees-aged for a year in seasoned French oak barrels. Bright, light yellow/green, it is a characterful, full-bodied wine with strong, ripely herbaceous flavours, nutty, savoury characters adding very…
Comments Off on Butterworth Te Muna Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022
Posted: July 21, 2022
This highly refined wine was hand-picked from mature vines and partly (10%) barrel-fermented. Fragrant and full-bodied, it has ripe passionfruit and lime flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, and a dry, long finish. Drink now or cellar. $30 (A, UK,…
Comments Off on Hunter’s Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / July 21, 2022