Posted: April 4, 2017
Offering fine value, this is a medium to full-bodied, dryish wine with balanced acidity and fresh peach, pear and spice flavours, showing very good vigour and depth. Drink now or cellar. (From Manly Liquor). $16
Comments Off on De Vine Dry Nelson Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This fragrant, full-bodied wine was hand-picked and handled in tanks (mostly) and barrels. It is generous, with concentrated, peachy, spicy, slightly honeyed flavours in a medium style, drinking well now. (From Manly Liquor). $20
Comments Off on De Vine Reserve Waipara Pinot Gris 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Offering good value, this is a clearly varietal, mouthfilling wine with fresh tropical fruit and herbaceous flavours, and a dryish, tangy finish. $15 (A)
Comments Off on Mouku Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Still very youthful, this full-coloured red is fresh and vibrantly fruity, with strong, plummy flavours, showing some savoury complexity, and a distinctly spicy finish. Best drinking mid-2017+. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Organic Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This fleshy, generous wine was partly hand-picked and almost entirely barrel-fermented. It has fresh, ripe stonefruit flavours to the fore, gently seasoned with toasty oak, in a typical regional style, offering good value. Best drinking 2017+. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This buoyantly fruity red was estate-grown in the Gimblett Gravels and matured for a year in French oak hogsheads. It’s a flavoursome, fresh, plummy, spicy wine, showing some nutty, savoury complexity, with a moderately firm finish. (From Te Awa). $25
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This fresh, lively, medium to full-bodied wine was hand-picked and fermented in seasoned oak barrels. Made in an off-dry style (11 grams/litre residual sugar), it has appetising acidity and very good depth of finely balanced, ripe, peachy, slightly spicy flavours….
Comments Off on Clearview Haumoana Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This buoyantly fruity wine was grown at Te Awanga and partly barrel-fermented. Enjoyable young, it is mouthfilling, with fresh acidity woven through its peachy, slightly buttery and toasty flavours, which show very good depth and roundness. [Previously called Te Awanga…
Comments Off on Clearview Coastal Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Grown at Rapaura and matured in 900-litre barrels, this floral, ruby hued and supple red is mouthfilling, with fresh, ripe, plummy, slightly nutty flavours, showing considerable complexity and good harmony. $35 (A, US)
Comments Off on Bird Big Barrel Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Enjoyable young, this is a medium-bodied wine with ripe, peachy, slightly spicy flavours. Made in an off-dry style, with balanced acidity, it is youthful, fresh and lively, with good depth. $20 (US)
Comments Off on Bird Gisborne Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Still unfolding, this sweet-fruited and savoury red was grown in the Southern Valleys and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (15% new). Ruby hued, it is floral and supple, with ripe cherry and spice flavours, showing good complexity,…
Comments Off on Zephyr Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This subtle wine was estate-grown in the lower Wairau Valley, hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts in large oak barrels. Light lemon/green, it is full-bodied and fleshy, with generous, ripe, citrusy flavours, a gentle seasoning of nutty oak, and a…
Comments Off on Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Sharply priced, this fragrant blend of merlot (60%), cabernet sauvignon (32%) and cabernet franc (8%) was matured for 20 months in French oak barriques (15% new). Deeply coloured, it is rich and supple, with strong, ripe plum, spice and slight…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Bargain-priced, this powerful wine is sturdy (14.5% alc/vol) and fleshy, with strong, ripe, peachy, slightly biscuity flavours, a hint of honeysuckle, gentle acidity and a dry finish. Drink now onwards. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gisborne Viognier 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Immediately appealing, this weighty, dry wine offers fine value. Showing good complexity, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with generous, ripe, peachy flavours and a long, dry finish. $18
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Gisborne Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This is a top buy and delicious young. Partly oak-aged, it is mouthfilling, with strong, ripe, citrusy, peachy flavours to the fore, and toast and butterscotch notes adding a real touch of complexity. Showing excellent freshness, vigour and depth, it’s…
Comments Off on Vidal Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Fruit-focused, with finely integrated oak, this full-bodied, barrel-fermented wine has vibrant, ripe, citrusy, peachy, slightly buttery flavours. Showing considerable complexity and very good depth and harmony, it’s enjoyable from the start. $30
Comments Off on Toi Toi Reserve New Zealand Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Still very youthful, this barrel-aged red is deeply coloured, with a fragrant, spicy bouquet. A strongly varietal wine, it is mouthfilling, with vibrant plum and black pepper flavours, showing excellent ripeness, depth and harmony. Priced sharply. $25
Comments Off on Squawking Magpie The Chatterer Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This refined, ageworthy red was grown in the Southern Valleys. Bright ruby, it is very finely balanced, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, a subtle seasoning of oak, and good complexity. Drink now or cellar. $32 (A, UK,…
Comments Off on Spy Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Certified organic, this full-bodied, ripely flavoured wine is from young, estate-grown vines in the Wairau Valley. Light lemon/green, it has tropical fruit flavours, with lees-aging notes adding a touch of complexity, and a crisp, dry, lingering finish. Priced right. $20…
Comments Off on Clos Henri Petit Clos by Clos Henri Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Drinking well now, this ruby hued, moderately mature red was grown at Pisa and matured for a year in French oak casks (50% new). It has cherry, spice and nut flavours, with a hint of dried herbs, supple tannins and…
Comments Off on Nevis Bluff Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Already drinking well, this is a Gimblett Gravels blend of merlot (85%), cabernet sauvignon (10%) and cabernet franc (5%), matured for a year in French oak barrels. Full and bright in colour, it is fragrant and fleshy, with rich plum/spice…
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Mouthfilling, partly barrel-fermented style with strong, ripe, grapefruit-like flavours, woven with fresh acidity, savoury, smoky notes adding complexity, and a lingering finish. Fine value. (From Te Awa). $18
Comments Off on Left Field Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Bargain-priced, mouthfilling, very youthful wine, with complexity from fermentation (partly with indigenous yeasts) in French oak barriques, 15% new. Grapefruit-like fruit flavours to the fore, with mealy, smoky notes and a fully dry, persistent finish. Best drinking mid-2017+. $20 (UK,…
Comments Off on Esk Valley Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Delicious young, this deeply coloured, generous red was grown at Te Awanga and matured in French oak casks (10% new). Mouthfilling and supple, it is vibrantly fruity, with plummy, spicy flavours, showing excellent depth and harmony. $27
Comments Off on Clearview Cape Kidnappers Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This instantly appealing, vivacious wine is light (8.9 alc/vol) and gently sweet (48 grams/litre residual sugar), with a freshly scented bouquet, strong, vibrant lemon/lime flavours, good acid spine and a lengthy finish. Drink now or cellar. $26
Comments Off on Black Peak Wanaka Central Otago Riesling 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Showing good vigour and intensity, this is a single-vineyard wine, grown at Rapaura. Full-bodied, it has ripe, strongly varietal melon/lime flavours, fresh, tangy and strong. $20 (A, US)
Comments Off on Bird Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Richly perfumed, this youthful wine was estate-grown in the lower Wairau Valley and mostly tank-fermented; 5% was handled in old oak. Light lemon/green, it is sturdy (14.5% alc/vol) and smooth, with ripe pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing excellent delicacy…
Comments Off on Zephyr Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
A great buy. Grown in the Wairau and Awatere valleys, this wine was partly hand-harvested, fully fermented in barriques (10% new), and barrel-matured for eight months. A classy young wine, it is very fresh and elegant, with good intensity of…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Is this the country’s best value viognier? Partly hand-harvested, it was fermented, with some use of indigenous yeasts, in barrels (60%) and tanks (40%). Powerful, sturdy (14.5% alc/vol) and fleshy, it has gentle acidity, with a strong surge of fresh,…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Priced sharply, this estate-grown red was matured for 15 months in French oak barriques (20 per cent new). Deeply coloured, it has a complex bouquet, leading into a rich, youthful, well-structured palate with fresh acidity and vibrant plum, spice, black…
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Bargain-priced, this full-bodied, savoury Gimblett Gravels red was matured for 20 months in French oak barriques. Deep and youthful in colour, it is fragrant and generous, with rich, ripe plum and blackcurrant flavours, a hint of dark chocolate, a subtle…
Comments Off on Vidal Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This stylish Northland red was estate-grown at a coastal vineyard and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (30% new). Fragrant, with dark, youthful colour, it has deep, vibrant plum, spice and nut flavours, fine-grained tannins, and excellent ripeness,…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Syrah 2013 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Refined and subtle, this is a mouthfilling, sweet-fruited wine with obvious potential. It has delicious, ripe peach and grapefruit flavours, showing excellent delicacy and depth, finely integrated oak, and lovely poise and harmony. Best drinking mid-2017+. $30
Comments Off on Te Awa Single Estate Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
Already delicious, this floral, savoury red is fine value. Grown at Bannockburn and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (15% new), it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with strong, youthful plum, cherry and spice flavours, showing good complexity, and…
Comments Off on Bannock Brae Goldfields Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This fruit-packed, single-vineyard Bendigo red was matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (20% new). Deep ruby, it has strong, vibrant, plum/spice flavours to the fore, a subtle seasoning of oak adding complexity, gentle tannins and loads of drink-young…
Comments Off on Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This lovely, sweet-fruited and finely textured red was matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (25% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, it has generous cherry, plum and spice flavours, integrated oak, gentle acidity and tannins, and…
Comments Off on Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This is a great buy. Estate-grown and hand-harvested at Te Awanga, it was fully fermented and lees-stirred for six months in seasoned French oak barrels. The bouquet is highly fragrant; the palate fleshy, rich and rounded, with concentrated, ripe, stonefruit…
Comments Off on Clearview Beachhead Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 4, 2017
Posted: April 4, 2017
This classy red was grown at Bannockburn, matured for 10 months in French oak casks (35% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, with an enticingly fragrant bouquet, it is full-bodied, with a sense of youthful vigour and concentrated,…
Comments Off on Bannock Brae Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 / 0 View / April 4, 2017