Posted: September 6, 2017
Black pepper and plum with a touch of wintergreen too. Generous and dense with plenty of tannin but ripe and balanced. A long persistent finish.
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
An uncomplicated, easy drinking merlot, full of red plum and cherry fruit. Not a bold wine but a charming sweetly fruited one.
Comments Off on Stoneleigh Marlborough Merlot 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Ripe blackberry and bramble fruit on the nose with a touch of Malbec’s wild, untamed fruit. Crunchy acidity and firm tannins. Good value.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Gisborne Malbec 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Bold cassis and plum fruit flavours are supported by quite a lot of new oak to give a full bodied, fairly chewy style of red.
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawkes Bay Tempranillo 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A bigger framed style of pinot; dense brooding dark cherry and plum fruit underpinned by firm tannins. Needs time.
Comments Off on Black Cottage Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Very youthful and primary with juicy aromas of red plum and berry. A nice core of fruit sweetness contributes to an appealing easy drinking style of pinot.
Comments Off on Black Cottage Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Bright apple and pear fruit on the nose leading to a creamy off dry, juicy palate. Well made and great value.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Pinot Gris 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Gently aromatic with guava and red capsicum aromas upfront whilst some biscuit and bran hints the wine spent time in older oak. Textural and dry.
Comments Off on Mount Riley 17 Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Sits firmly in the citrus/grapefruit spectrum. Tight and focussed with a lovely backbone of acidity and a touch of oak rounding out the palate.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Although there is plenty of oak cloaking the palate, there is a decent amount of spicy black berry fruit underneath. A bold glossy red.
Comments Off on Marsden Vigot Syrah 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Not so much of the black pepper found in Hawkes Bay and instead this speaks of Marlborough; juicy red raspberry fruit flavours, silky and super approachable, already drinking well
Comments Off on Mount Riley Syrah 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A juicy, vivid style of syrah which has a lovely combination of white pepper and raspberry fruit and just a touch of tannin. Softly textured and immediately appealing.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Reserve Syrah 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
An appealing medium bodied red; blackberry and plum flavours, richly textured with some smoky oak and a nudge of chewy tannin.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Le Phant Rouge 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Red liquorice, smoked meat, raspberry and even a touch of pepper. Bold fruit flavours surrounded by chewy dense tannins. An unusual wine but curiously appealing.
Comments Off on Church Road McDonald Series Hawkes Bay Marzemino 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Bright vivid red fruit flavours of dried cranberry and strawberry with a gentle bite of tannin on the finish. Drinking well now.
Comments Off on Mount Riley Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
An exotic aroma; liquorice and rose petal sit alongside dark fruits. A generous softly textured pinot noir.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
The nose is full of freshly squeezed grapefruit and lime and although the palate is fairly sweet, there is plenty of succulent acidity to balance.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Riesling 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A more subtle style of viognier; yellow plum and nectarine with a touch of honeysuckle musk. Gently textural with a crisp dry finish.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Viognier 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Appealing citrussy chardonnay that is immediately appealing. Vibrant fruit flavours of melon and yellow plum are unencumbered by too much oak giving a bright, honest wine.
Comments Off on Alpha Domus The Pilot Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Plenty of golden peach and ripe melon fruit upfront, leading to moderately concentrated palate. The oak is well judged and zippy acidity keeps the wine in balance.
Comments Off on Alpha Domus The Skybolt Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Bright, fruit focussed chardonnay with ripe nectarine and rock melon flavours to the fore. Not especially complex but has lots of drink me now appeal.
Comments Off on Mount Riley Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Quite shy when first tasted but with a little time in the glass opened to reveal some ripe stone fruit and apple flavours. Savoury
Comments Off on Mount Riley 17 Valley Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Super bold, chewy and dense with masses blackcurrant and plum. Touches of star anise and graphite too. Not the most polished of wines but plenty of dense sweet fruit and a long finish.
Comments Off on Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Black plummy fruit, some charry, cinnamon and nutmeg oak and a silky medium bodied palate combine to give an approachable, well executed savoury red. Plenty of wine for $20.
Comments Off on Sacred Hill Orange Label Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Late harvest Riesling contributes plenty of super ripe, honeyed papaya and peach aromas. Super sweet but with a lovely lively acid spine that gives a mandarin and lime edge to the flavours and keeps everything in balance.
Comments Off on Toi Toi Late Harvest Dessert Wine 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Lovely bright vivid fruit aromas sit firmly in the capsicum, snow pea and citrus spectrum. Crisp and juicy with a fresh lemon acid backbone, plenty of flavour and a crisp dry finish.
Comments Off on Toi Toi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Beautifully restrained; plenty of flavour but done in an understated, textural way. White nectarine and citrus fruit flavours, subtle integrated oak in the background and a lovely succulent thread of acidity. Good stuff.
Comments Off on Zephyr Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Grilled pineapple and freshly squeezed lime juice aromas with some digestive bran biscuit oak sitting nicely alongside. Smartly made wine with a silky yet dry finish. Excellent value.
Comments Off on Stoneleigh Wild Valley Marlborough Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Understated chardonnay; appealing rock melon and red apple fruit supported by a whisper of oak and an attractive silky texture. Not a blockbuster but nicely balanced and very appealing.
Comments Off on Black Cottage Reserve Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Peach, nectarine and red grapefruit aromas, interwoven with a nice touch of barrel ferment characters of bran biscuit and gun smoke. Creamy and subtle but with plenty of flavour. Attractive interpretation of modern NZ chardonnay
Comments Off on Marsden Black Rocks Chardonnay 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
This is lovely. Smoked barbecue meat, black pepper and spice. Dense and compact with firm, savoury tannins, this is a richly textured Syrah There is a real persistence of flavour that suggests this will develop well in bottle.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Syrah 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Delightful Otago characters of dark plum, cherry and dried thyme on the nose whilst chewy dense tannins support the concentrated fruit flavour. This is a powerful, impressive wine that is just a little closed right now.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Lots of botrytis here; manuka honey, dried apricot and ryebread complement the golden peach and mango flavours. Intensely sweet with a lovely succulent texture and a zesty, crisp finish.
Comments Off on Alpha Domus The Pilot Leonarda Late Harvest 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Bourbon rose and pink Turkish delight flavours compete with a generous seasoning of sweet spice. Off dry with an attractive gingerbread textural edge that keeps the palate in balance. Long sustained finish. Simply delicious.
Comments Off on Zephyr Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
A very engaging style of Marlborough pinot; dried lavender, red cherry and cranberry fruit flavours. Appealing silky texture with soft papery tannins. Not the biggest nor boldest but a lovely gentle wine.
Comments Off on Mount Riley Limited Release Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Textbook gewurz; rose petal, lychee and Turkish delight aromas jostle for attention. Richly textured with a definite sweetness gives a plump, squishy mouthfeel and leads to a lingering finish. A wine full of personality.
Comments Off on Mission Estate Gewurztraminer 2016 / 0 View / September 6, 2017
Posted: September 6, 2017
Barrel ferment notes of nutmeg and sweet spice complement the perfectly ripe white nectarine and peach fruit flavours. There’s a nice chalky texture to the palate which keeps the wine interesting and the finish is long and savoury. Really rather…
Comments Off on Alpha Domus AD Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / September 6, 2017