Posted: March 7, 2019
Fresh, light (10% alc/vol) and lively, this is an easy-drinking, pinot gris-based wine, blended with pinot noir. Pale pink, it has peach, strawberry and watermelon flavours, with an off-dry finish. $18
Comments Off on Anchorage Nelson Pinot Rosé 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Looking for a low alcohol style of pinot gris? The bouquet is fresh and aromatic; the palate light (9.5% alc/vol) and lively, with pear, apple and peach flavours, slightly sweet and crisp. Enjoyable young. $18
Comments Off on Anchorage Lighter Alcohol Nelson Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Still unfolding, this is a mouthfilling, fully dry style of pinot gris, with very good depth of fresh, pear-like flavours, slightly spicy notes and a finely balanced, smooth finish. Open mid-2019+. $18
Comments Off on Tohu Nelson Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
From two sites in the Wairau and Awatere valleys, this pale lemon/green wine is fresh, vibrant and medium-bodied, with tropical fruit and herbaceous flavours, crisp and strong. $26
Comments Off on Soho Pink Sheep Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This generous red was matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with strong, plummy, slightly spicy and earthy flavours, and a moderately smooth finish. Priced right. $19
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Falcon Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This pale pink rosé was blended mostly from pinot noir and chardonnay, with splashes of pinot gris and merlot. It has fresh, strong, peachy flavours to the fore, hints of spices and apricots, a touch of tannin and an off-dry…
Comments Off on Allan Scott Marlborough Rosé 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Well worth cellaring, this is a very youthful, medium-bodied wine. Bright, light lemon/green, it has strong, lemony, appley, slightly peachy flavours, a minerally streak, and a sliver of sweetness, balanced by mouth-watering acidity. Best drinking mid-2020+. $22
Comments Off on Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Riesling 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Drinking well from the start, this is a strongly varietal, sweet-fruited wine, with punchy melon and green capsicum-like flavours, showing very good freshness, delicacy and depth. Good value. $18
Comments Off on Tohu Marlborough Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This generous, zesty blend of Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley grapes is mouthfilling, with strong tropical fruit flavours to the fore, a herbaceous undercurrent and a dry, lingering finish. $25 (A)
Comments Off on Soho Stella Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Still very youthful, this mouthfilling, supple red was hand-picked and French oak-matured (25% new). Full, bright ruby, it has ripe, cherryish, plummy, slightly spicy flavours, showing good concentration, nutty, savoury notes adding complexity, and obvious potential. Open mid-2020+. $38 (A)
Comments Off on Soho Havana Yarrum Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This good value, estate-grown wine was hand-harvested at Kina, near the coast, and aged for 10 months in French oak barriques (25% new). Bright ruby, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with very good depth of cherry, plum and spice flavours,…
Comments Off on Renato Nelson Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This graceful young red was mostly estate-grown and aged for 10 months in barrels (18% new). Ruby hued, it is an elegant, supple wine with cherryish, plummy flavours, some savoury notes, and good complexity and harmony. (From Palliser Estate). $30…
Comments Off on Pencarrow Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This tightly structured, youthful, medium-bodied wine was estate-grown at two sites. Bright, light lemon/green, it is vigorous, with good intensity of fresh, lemony, slightly spicy flavours, woven with appetising acidity, and an off-dry finish. Open 2021+. $25 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Delicious young, this vibrantly fruity, easy-drinking rosé was made from pinot noir, matured on its yeast lees for three months. Pale pink, it has fresh, strong, strawberry and spice flavours, a hint of apricot, and a dryish, smooth finish. $25…
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Rosé 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This full-bodied, generous wine was estate-grown and lees-aged in tanks. Vibrantly fruity, it has strong peach and pear flavours, slightly spicy notes, finely balanced acidity and an off-dry finish. Drink now or cellar. $31 (UK, US)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Still very youthful, this Waipara red was barrique-aged for 10 months. Full, bright ruby, it has good concentration of ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, savoury notes adding complexity, and a well-structured finish. Best drinking 2021+. $32 (A)
Comments Off on Greystone Nor’Wester by North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Already enjoyable, this is a fresh, lively wine with generous, citrusy, appley flavours, hints of peach, apricot and honey, and a slightly sweet, finely balanced finish. Good value. $17
Comments Off on Mount Brown Estates North Canterbury Riesling 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Offering good value, this is a fresh, full-bodied, strongly varietal wine, with good vigour and intensity of tropical fruit and herbaceous flavours, crisp, dry and lingering. $18
Comments Off on Allan Scott Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This is a full-bodied, Alsace-style pinot gris, with fresh, strong, pear-like aromas and flavours, hints of peaches and spices, and an off-dry finish. Weighty and vibrant, with good depth, it’s delicious young. $18
Comments Off on Allan Scott Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
With its lifted, peppery, fragrant bouquet, this is a strongly varietal red. Blended with a splash of viognier (2%) and barrel-aged for 15 months, it is full-coloured and mouthfilling, with very good concentration of fresh, youthful, plummy, spicy flavours, supple,…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Fresh and vivacious, this Marlborough wine was made from pinot noir and matured for two years on its yeast lees. Bright, light pink, it is fragrant, with good intensity of crisp, strawberryish, yeasty, dryish flavours, showing excellent delicacy, balance and…
Comments Off on Tohu Rewa Méthode Traditionnelle Rosé 2015 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
As a drink-young style of riesling, this is hard to beat. Made in a distinctly medium style, with some botrytis influence, it has gently honeyed notes on the nose and palate, with rich, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, threaded with lively…
Comments Off on Terrace Edge Liquid Geography North Canterbury Riesling 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Already drinking well, this attractively perfumed red was hand-picked at Gibbston, Bannockburn and Bendigo, and matured in French oak casks (25% new). Full, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling and supple, with vibrant plum, dried herb and spice flavours, showing good…
Comments Off on Soho McQueen Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Showing lots of personality, this bright pink, invitingly scented wine was made solely from pinot noir. Mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, it has good concentration of peachy, strawberryish, spicy flavours, with a dry finish. $26
Comments Off on Scott Base Central Otago Rosé 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This perfumed, engaging young red was mostly grown at Wharekauhau, south of Martinborough, and barrel-aged for 10 months. Light ruby, it is very scented and supple, with ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing good complexity, and a harmonious,…
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This deep ruby, finely structured red was hand-harvested, matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (30% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Poised and youthful, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with fresh, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, good…
Comments Off on Maude Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Offering good value, this Bannockburn, Central Otago chardonnay was fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (35% new). Light lemon/green, with a fresh, complex, citrusy, slightly smoky bouquet, it is elegant and youthful, with grapefruit-evoking flavours, showing…
Comments Off on Domain Road Defiance Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Well worth discovering, this weighty wine was hand-picked from mature vines at Gibbston and lees-aged in tanks. Fresh and full-bodied (14.5% alc/vol), it has strong, lively, grapefruit-like flavours, hints of apples and limes, a minerally streak and a crisp, sustained…
Comments Off on Coal Pit Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This classy, blended red is dominated by cabernet sauvignon (43%) and cabernet franc (41%), supplemented by merlot (14%) and a splash of malbec (2%). Barrel-matured for 16 months (35% new oak), it is deeply coloured, with fresh, pure, blackcurrant and…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2016 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Already drinking well, this rich, complex wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for a year in French oak puncheons. Bright, light lemon/green, it is fragrant, mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, with concentrated, peachy, slightly toasty flavours, balanced acidity, and…
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Showing unusual depth for a New Zealand rosé, this pink/very pale red Waipara wine was made entirely from syrah. Mouthfilling, vibrantly fruity and very finely balanced, it has strong berry, plum and spice flavours, vague sweetness, a touch of tannin…
Comments Off on Terrace Edge North Canterbury Rosé 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
This elegant, bottle-fermented blend of pinot noir (50%) and chardonnay (50%) was disgorged in March 2018. It has a highly scented, yeasty bouquet, leading into a vivacious wine with citrusy, slightly appley, distinctly yeasty flavours, very harmonious, delicate, racy and…
Comments Off on Palliser Estate The Griffin Méthode Traditionnelle Martinborough 2015 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
Hand-picked from vines planted in Central Otago in 1994, this is a great candidate for cellaring. Fresh, tight, intense and minerally, it is medium-bodied, with citrusy, appley flavours, showing lovely delicacy, vibrancy and length. Open 2021+. $32
Comments Off on Maude Mt Vineyard Wanaka Dry Riesling 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019
Posted: March 7, 2019
From vines planted in 1994 on a steep, north-facing slope at Wanaka, in Central Otago, this is a Mosel-like wine, light and lively. Showing lovely vibrancy and depth, it is vivacious, with intense peach, lemon and apple flavours, gentle sweetness,…
Comments Off on Maude Mt Vineyard East Block Wanaka Riesling 2018 / 0 View / March 7, 2019