Posted: December 10, 2019
This bright pink, highly scented wine was blended from pinot noir and pinot gris. Briefly lees-aged, it is vibrantly fruity, with strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, a hint of peaches, and a slightly sweet, smooth finish. Good drinking for the…
Comments Off on Mount Riley The Bonnie Marlborough Pinot Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Priced sharply, this is a 4:1 blend of Wairau Valley and Awatere Valley grapes. Highly aromatic, it’s a medium-bodied wine with very good depth of fresh, lively, tropical fruit and herbaceous flavours, and a crisp, tangy finish. $15 (A, UK,…
Comments Off on Mount Riley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still a baby, this attractively scented wine was grown in the central Wairau Valley. Pale lemon/green, it is fresh and medium-bodied, with a gentle splash of sweetness, balanced acidity, good depth of citrusy, slightly appley and spicy flavours, and lots…
Comments Off on Mount Riley Marlborough Riesling 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This bright, light pink wine has fresh, slightly spicy aromas. Blended from pinot noir and pinot gris, grown in the Wairau Valley and lees-aged for two months, it is a medium-bodied wine, with lively strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, slightly…
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This punchy, very youthful wine is full-bodied and vibrant, with fresh, strong passionfruit and green capsicum flavours, lively acidity and a finely balanced finish. Good value. $21 (A)
Comments Off on Toi Toi Winemakers Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This fragrant, youthful red is deep ruby, with mouthfilling body, strong, ripe, cherryish, gently spicy flavours, savoury notes adding complexity and a fairly firm finish. Well worth cellaring, it should be at its best 2021+. $33 (A)
Comments Off on Toi Toi Winemakers Selection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Already drinking well, this single-vineyard wine is scented and full-bodied, with lively acidity, good intensity of citrusy, limey flavours and an appetisingly crisp, dry finish. $22 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Paddy Borthwick Wairarapa Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Offering great value, this wine was substantially (55%) grown in the lower Wairau Valley, blended with fruit from the central Wairau Valley (40%) and the Awatere Valley (5%). Lees-aged for three months, it is fresh and full-bodied, with very good…
Comments Off on Mount Riley Limited Release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This full-bodied, partly barrel-fermented wine has strong, vibrant pear, lychee and spice flavours, with a lingering, dry finish. Showing good varietal character and a distinct touch of complexity, it should be at its best mid-2020+. $24 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Paddy Borthwick Wairarapa Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Perfumed and full-bodied, this single-vineyard wine was grown in the Southern Valleys and principally handled in tanks; 10% of the blend was barrel-fermented. Enjoyable from the start, it is invitingly scented, with vibrant peach, lychee and spice flavours, showing a…
Comments Off on Mount Riley Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Highly aromatic and intensely varietal, this is a pungent, very fresh, crisp and lively wine, with incisive passionfruit and green capsicum flavours, tangy, dry and lingering. (From Staete Landt). $18
Comments Off on Map Maker Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Looking good for the summer of 2019-20, this bright, light lemon/green wine is full-bodied and freshly aromatic, with good intensity of ripely herbaceous flavours, crisp and punchy. (From Pegasus Bay.) $21 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Main Divide North Canterbury Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very fresh and lively wine is medium-bodied, with a punchy, aromatic bouquet. Strongly varietal, it is crisp and tangy, with very good vigour and depth of passionfruit, lime and green capsicum flavours. Priced sharply. $18 (A)
Comments Off on Haha Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Delicious young, this fresh, elegant red was estate-grown and barrel-aged (15% new). Bright ruby, it is sweet-fruited and supple, with youthful, ripe, moderately concentrated cherry, plum and spice flavours, oak-derived complexity and some tannin backbone. A very graceful red, it…
Comments Off on Chard Farm River Run Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This tightly structured, single-vineyard Parkburn red was barrel-aged (20% new). Ruby hued, it is invitingly fragrant, full-bodied and fresh, with a hint of herbs, savoury, nutty notes adding complexity and firm tannins. It needs time; open 2022+. $79 (A)
Comments Off on Chard Farm Mason Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Still youthful, this barrel-fermented wine has a slightly creamy, buttery fragrance. Full-bodied, with peachy, slightly spicy and biscuity flavours, and finely balanced acidity, it shows considerable complexity, with a rounded finish. $29
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Invitingly perfumed and finely textured, this single-vineyard Parkburn red was hand-harvested and barrel-aged (20% new). Mouthfilling, it is ruby hued, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, nutty oak adding complexity, and a very harmonious finish. Best drinking 2021+….
Comments Off on Chard Farm The Viper Parkburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This generous, youthful red was estate-grown and hand-picked at two sites, at Lowburn and Parkburn, and barrel-aged (20% new). Ruby hued, it is savoury and supple, with strong cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, oak complexity and obvious potential; best…
Comments Off on Chard Farm Mata-Au Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Instantly appealing, this is a rich, medium style. Attractively scented, it has strong, citrusy, peachy, slightly appley flavours, showing good delicacy, and a lovely balance of sweetness and mouth-watering acidity. Drink now or cellar. $26
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This very ageworthy red was estate-grown, hand-picked and matured for over a year in seasoned oak barrels. Deeply coloured, it is fragrant and full-bodied, with strong, youthful cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely balanced tannins and very good complexity. Best…
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Full of personality, this single-vineyard red was grown on a south-east-facing site near Kerikeri, matured in French oak barrels (one year-old), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep and youthful in colour, it is full-bodied, with concentrated, vibrant, plummy, spicy flavours,…
Comments Off on 144 Islands Bay of Islands Northland Syrah 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Grown at Mangawhai Heads, this elegant, barrel-fermented wine has lots of youthful drive. Fresh and full-bodied, with an oaky, buttery fragrance, it has generous, peachy, slightly toasty flavours, showing good complexity, balanced acidity and a long, tightly structured finish. Best…
Comments Off on 144 Islands Northland Chardonnay 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
A wine of strong presence, this golden, honey-sweet North Canterbury wine is made in the classic Sauternes style. French oak-aged for 18 months, it has a fragrant, gently honeyed bouquet. Full-bodied, it has rich, apricot-like flavours, showing lovely complexity, poise…
Comments Off on Pegasus Bay Finale Noble Barrique Matured Canterbury Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Full of personality, this explosively flavoured, single-vineyard wine has a pungent, ripely aromatic, very fresh and lively bouquet. Mouthfilling and racy, it is sweet-fruited, with penetrating, ripely herbaceous flavours, threaded with crisp acidity, and a dry, persistent finish. $24 (A,…
Comments Off on Paddy Borthwick Wairarapa Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
Already delicious, this rich, savoury, supple Bendigo red was estate-grown and barrel-aged for 10 months. Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, berryish, spicy bouquet, it is a powerful, sturdy wine, with generous, ripe cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, finely integrated…
Comments Off on Mondillo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This lush, sturdy, velvety red was estate-grown and hand-selected at Bendigo, and matured for 19 months in French oak barriques (one year-old). Deeply coloured, it is softly mouthfilling, with seductively rich, ripe cherry/plum flavours, gentle acidity, and a very harmonious,…
Comments Off on Mondillo Bella Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019
Posted: December 10, 2019
This is my pick of Chard Farm’s reds from 2017. A single-vineyard Lowburn red, it was hand-picked and barrel-aged (20% new). Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, youthful cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, oak-derived complexity and…
Comments Off on Chard Farm The Tiger Lowburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / December 10, 2019