Posted: December 2, 2021
This distinctive, fortified wine has lightish, very tawny colour. Moderately concentrated, it is a sweetish, slightly raisiny wine that lacks the mellowness of a fine old tawny, but is still an enjoyable mouthful. $35
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Northland Port NV / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown in the Far North, this pink/pale orange wine is full-bodied, with plenty of peachy, spicy flavour and a dry, rounded finish. Ready for the summer of 2020-21. $27
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Calypso Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown at Kerikeri, in Northland, this bright, light lemon/green wine has fresh, herbal aromas. Medium-bodied, it has citrusy, appley flavours, crisp and lively, and good depth. Enjoyable young. $26
Comments Off on Fat Pig Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Made from estate-grown syrah, this Northland rosé is bright pink. Offering very easy drinking, it has peach, strawberry and watermelon flavours, and an off-dry, smooth finish. $24
Comments Off on Fat Pig Vineyard Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Enjoyable young, this lively, medium-bodied wine is strongly varietal, with fresh tropical fruit and herbaceous flavours, and an appetisingly crisp finish. $18 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Anchorage Family Estate Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Drinking well now, this creamy-textured wine has good depth of peachy, slightly toasty flavours, gentle acidity and a dry, smooth finish. $16 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Anchorage Family Estate Nelson Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, robust wine was hand-picked at Upper Moutere and barrel-fermented. Bright yellow/green, it is sweet-fruited, with fresh acidity and youthful, stonefruit flavours. It needs time; open 2022+. $37
Comments Off on Old House Vineyards One Tree Nelson Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful, gutsy red is ready to roll. Estate-grown in the Far North, it was barrel-aged for 29 months. Fullish and fairly mature in colour, with a slightly rustic bouquet, it is mouthfilling and firm, with ripe, moderately concentrated, spicy,…
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Pinotage 2016 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Pale pink, this is a cabernet franc-based rosé. Mouthfilling, it is not highly scented but offers very good depth of peach, spice and strawberry flavours, with a touch of tannin and a dryish finish. $22
Comments Off on Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Northland Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Invitingly scented, this medium-bodied wine is vibrantly fruity, with fresh, youthful pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing good depth, balanced acidity and an off-dry finish. Very easy drinking. $18 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Anchorage Family Estate Nelson Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This Northland rosé is a blend of syrah, merlot and cabernet franc. Bright, light pink, it is a freshly scented, medium-bodied wine, with peach, apricot, strawberry and spice flavours, showing very good delicacy, vibrancy and harmony. $27 (US)
Comments Off on The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This very youthful wine is tightly structured, with fresh, ripe, citrusy, peachy, appley flavours, showing very good delicacy and depth. Finely poised, it’s already enjoyable, but well worth cellaring. $26 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This distinctive Northland chardonnay was estate-grown, hand-harvested and barrel-fermented. Light gold, it is weighty, with deep, ripe stonefruit flavours, gently seasoned with toasty oak, balanced acidity, and drink-young appeal. $45
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still very youthful, this boldly coloured, fruit-packed red was matured for 18 months in French oak barrels. Fresh, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, and good tannin backbone, it needs time; open 2022+. $49 (US)
Comments Off on Georges Michel Legend Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Grown in the Far North, this fresh, full-bodied wine has strong, ripe, pear-like flavours, hints of peaches and spices, and an off-dry finish. Showing good varietal character, it offers very easy drinking. $22
Comments Off on Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Northland Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This punchy, lees-aged wine is fresh and full-bodied, with strong, ripe tropical fruit flavours, lively acidity and a lingering finish. $20 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Anchorage Family Estate Reserve Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Fresh, youthful, savoury and supple, this regional blend was hand-picked and matured in French oak barriques (22% new). Bright ruby, it is very harmonious, with vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing good complexity, and a smooth finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Grown at Queensberry, in the Cromwell Basin, this freshly scented, bright ruby red is elegant and supple, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak and a very harmonious, lingering finish. $40 (UK)
Comments Off on Two Degrees Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This skilfully crafted, estate-grown Northland red was blended principally from sangiovese and montepulciano, with smaller amounts of cabernet franc and merlot. Barrique-aged for a year, it is full-coloured, mouthfilling, fresh and smooth, with strong, ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours,…
Comments Off on The Landing Boathouse Bay of Islands Vino Rosso 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This mouthfilling, lively Northland rosé is an estate-grown blend of syrah, merlot and pinot gris. Pale pink, it has very good intensity of delicate peach, strawberry and spice flavours, youthful, dry and lingering. $35 (US)
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this vigorous wine was estate-grown, hand-picked and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, slightly biscuity bouquet, it is mouthfilling, with ripe stonefruit flavours, strong and vibrant, and…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Boathouse Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still a baby, this Waipara-grown red is full-coloured and mouthfilling, with rich blackcurrant and spice flavours, hints of olives and herbs, savoury notes adding complexity, and supple tannins. Best drinking 2022+. Certified organic. $36 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Terrace Edge North Canterbury Syrah 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Certified organic, this Waipara-grown wine is a blend of syrah (60%) and pinot noir (40%). Bright pink, it is very youthful, with good intensity of vibrant peach, strawberry and spice flavours, a touch of tannin, and an off-dry, lingering finish….
Comments Off on Terrace Edge North Canterbury Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Certified organic, this is a distinctly medium style, with rich, ripe, peachy, slightly appley and spicy flavours, a vague suggestion of honey, and a finely poised finish. Best drinking 2022+. $24 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Terrace Edge Liquid Geography North Canterbury Riesling 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Highly scented, this bright pink, vibrant wine was made from pinot noir. Balanced for easy drinking, it has excellent delicacy and depth of strawberry, watermelon and spice flavours, and a smooth finish. $28 (A)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Estate-grown at a very small, single-variety vineyard in Kerikeri, this very youthful wine is richly scented and mouthfilling, with strong, ripe pear, lychee and spice flavours, showing very good delicacy, fresh acidity, and a long, basically dry, finely poised finish….
Comments Off on Morepork Vineyard Northland Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful red was estate-grown in Northland and matured for two years in French (mostly) and American oak casks. Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, spicy, slightly earthy bouquet, it is sturdy, rich and firm, with concentrated, youthful plum and spice…
Comments Off on Karikari Estate Syrah 2017 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Instantly likeable, this wine was grown in the Awatere Valley and given some oak handling. Ripely scented, it is weighty, with vibrant passionfruit/lime flavours and a rounded, very harmonious, lingering finish. $20 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Invivo X Sarah Jessica Parker Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already drinking well, this Central Otago wine is ripely scented and full-bodied, with generous, peachy, slightly limey and appley flavours, finely balanced acidity and an off-dry, harmonious finish. $27 (A)
Comments Off on Domain Road Road The Water Race Bannockburn Dry Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Enjoyable now, this bright, light lemon/green Central Otago wine is a fragrant, medium style, with a vague hint of honey and good richness of finely balanced, peachy, citrusy flavours. $27 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Domain Road Road Duffers Creek Bannockburn Riesling 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This powerful wine was estate-grown, hand-picked, and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (32% new). Bright, light yellow/green, with a toasty bouquet, it is full-bodied, with rich stonefruit flavours, showing good complexity, and a slightly creamy…
Comments Off on Domain Road Road Defiance Central Otago Bannockburn Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Bright pink, this lively rosé is drinking well now. Mouthfilling, it has strong,, ripe, peachy flavours, hints of spices and apricots, and a fresh, basically dry finish. $27 (A, US)
Comments Off on Domain Road Road Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Showing good potential, this vigorous, estate-grown red was matured for 10 months in French oak casks (27% new). Deep ruby, it is fragrant, with vibrant cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing very good complexity, and a very harmonious finish….
Comments Off on Domain Road Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Full of personality, this youthful Northland wine is full-bodied and fleshy, with strong, fresh, citrusy, slightly peachy and spicy flavours, showing excellent depth and vigour. $22
Comments Off on Dancing Petrel Paewhenua Island Northland Arneis 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Already very approachable, this seductive red was grown at three sites in Bannockburn, matured in French oak barriques (22% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Bright ruby, with a very fragrant, savoury bouquet, it is mouthfilling and supple, with impressive…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Earth and Sky Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This classy wine was estate-grown in Northland, hand-picked and fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques. Bright, light lemon/green, it is refined and full-bodied, with deep, vibrant peach and grapefruit flavours, mealy and toasty notes adding complexity,…
Comments Off on The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Bright ruby, this partly barrel-aged red is full-bodied, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, an earthy streak and a fairly firm finish. $25 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Saint Clair Origin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Priced right, this bright, light pink wine was made mostly from Pinot Noir grapes, grown in the Wairau Valley. Fermented and briefly lees-aged in tanks, it is freshly scented, with very lively, strawberryish flavours, hints of watermelon and spices, and…
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This lively, medium-bodied wine was grown in the Wairau Valley and fermented and lees-aged in tanks. Bright, light lemon/green, it is a fully dry style with youthful, peachy, slightly citrusy and spicy flavours, showing good vigour and depth. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This very lively, single-vineyard rosé was made from syrah, hand-picked at Waipara, fermented with indigenous yeasts and lees-aged. Bright pink, it is light-bodied, with vibrant red berry and watermelon flavours, crisp and dry. Good drinking for the summer of 2020-21….
Comments Off on Georges Road Les Terrasses Waipara Rosé 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This aromatic, punchy wine was grown in the Wairau and Awatere valleys. Tank-fermented, it is intensely varietal, with good intensity of fresh, ripe passionfruit/lime flavours and a dry, appetisingly crisp finish. $18 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Black Cottage Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Still unfolding, this full-bodied red was estate-grown at Fairhall, south-west of Blenheim, and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels. Bright ruby, it is savoury, complex and supple, with strong, ripe cherry, spice and nut flavours, fresh acidity and…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
This very ageworthy, youthful wine was fermented with indigenous yeasts and lees-aged for a year in French oak barrels (20% new). Pale lemon/green, with a fresh, elegant bouquet, it has vibrant, citrusy, peachy, mealy flavours, showing excellent ripeness, delicacy and…
Comments Off on Pask Small Batch Wild Yeast Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Youthful, with obvious potential, this Awatere Valley wine was estate-grown and fermented and lees-aged for nine months in French oak barrels. Bright, light lemon/green, with a fragrant, ripely herbaceous, complex bouquet, it is full-bodied, with concentrated, tropical fruit flavours, a…
Comments Off on Mission Barrique Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021
Posted: December 2, 2021
Full of youthful promise, this powerful, single-vineyard red was grown in the Southern Valleys and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (25% new). Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling and weighty, with concentrated cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours,…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / December 2, 2021