Posted: June 16, 2017
Ripely scented, generous, medium style with passionfruit, lemon and lime flavours and moderate acidity. Forward, ripe and rounded. Delicious young.
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Riesling 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Weighty wine with peachy, citrusy flavours, hints of ginger and spice, and good concentration and vigour. Youthful, off-dry style, for drinking now or cellaring.
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Gris 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Delicious now, this is a single vineyard, Te Awanga blend of pinot gris, viognier and gewürztraminer. The bouquet is gently spicy; the palate mouthfilling, with strong, ripe, peachy, spicy flavours and an off-dry finish. Very user-friendly.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Le Phant Blanc Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Fleshy and mouthfilling, with generous stonefruit and pear flavours, a touch of complexity and a dryish, slightly spicy, finely textured finish. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Domain Road Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Gris 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured and mouthfilling, with generous, ripe, plum and black pepper flavours. Good varietal character, with savoury notes adding complexity (16 months in French oak) and supple tannins. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Cable Bay Waiheke Island Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Full-coloured, with a fresh, spicy bouquet, strong plum/spice flavours and oak-matured complexity. Refined, savoury and lingering, with good cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Cable Bay Five Hills Waiheke Island Merlot Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Buttery, sweetly oaked bouquet, leading into a full-bodied, softly structured Northland wine with concentrated, citrusy, peachy, toasty flavours. Upfront style, already drinking well but still developing.
Comments Off on Bent Duck Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Ruby hued, sweet-fruited red with cherry, plum and spice flavours. Savoury and nutty, with good complexity (15 months in French oak barriques) and ripe, finely balanced tannins. Drink now or cellar. Fine value.
Comments Off on Alexander Dusty Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Powerful, dark, purple-flushed red, still very youthful. Full-bodied, with a strong surge of plummy, spicy flavour, woven with fresh acidity, fine-grained tannins and obvious cellaring potential. Open 2016+.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Malbec 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured, with a fragrant bouquet of ripe plums and spices. Still very youthful, with vibrant blackcurrant and black pepper flavours, showing excellent concentration, well-integrated oak and fine-grained tannins. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
This is one of New Zealand’s first marsannes (blended with 31% viognier.) Fleshy and sweet-fruited, it is weighty and savoury, with concentrated stonefruit flavours, slightly buttery and nutty, and good complexity. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Trinity Hills Gimblett Gravels Marsanne Viognier 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Delicious, distinctly medium style with strong, citrusy flavours, hints of passionfruit and honey, gentle sweetness balanced by lively acidity, and excellent richness and harmony. Drink now or cellar. Great value.
Comments Off on Terrace Edge Liquid Geography Waipara Valley Riesling 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Classy Matakana red, blended from cabernet franc (60%), merlot (35%) and carmenere (5%). Full-coloured, savoury and earthy, with distinct overtones of Bordeaux. Sweet-fruited, with excellent concentration and complexity. Already delicious and well-priced.
Comments Off on Sculptureum The Rodin Blend Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Boldly coloured Matakana red, fragrant, fresh and full-bodied. Strongly varietal, with concentrated plum and black pepper flavours, slightly earthy notes adding complexity and balanced tannins. Ageworthy red, offering fine value.
Comments Off on Sculptureum Cezanne Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured, with a fragrant, ripe, savoury bouquet. Sweet-fruited and supple, with cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent complexity and harmony. A top vintage. (From Palliser Estate.)
Comments Off on Pencarrow Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Very graceful red, grown at several sites, including Mount Maude Vineyard at Wanaka. Deep ruby, perfumed and silky, with rich cherry and plum flavours, oak complexity and excellent depth and harmony. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Maude Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deep, bright ruby. Enticingly floral, with vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, good concentration and a subtle seasoning of oak (French, 18% new.) Savoury, youthful wine, already delicious, but likely to be at its best 2016+.
Comments Off on Lowburn Ferry Skeleton Creek Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured blend, grown in the Gimblett Gravels and the Bridge Pa Triangle. Powerful young red with fresh, ripe, concentrated plum/spice flavours, hints of dark chocolate and nuts, and good tannin backbone. Well worth cellaring to 2017+.
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Merlot Malbec Cabernet Franc Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Delicious drinking from now onwards, this is a full-bodied, sweet-fruited wine with strong, citrusy, peachy flavours, hints of butter and toast, finely integrated oak and good weight, texture and harmony. Fine value.
Comments Off on Charles Wiffen Marlborough Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Full-bodied, with rich, ripe stonefruit flavours and mealy, slightly buttery notes adding complexity. Powerful, concentrated wine, youthful and well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Cable Bay Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured, very youthful red with highly concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent ripeness and varietal definition. Elegant, with fine-grained tannins and good cellaring potential. Fine value.
Comments Off on Byrne Northland Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Highly fragrant, densely coloured red, grown in the Gimblett Gravels. Very concentrated, youthful and silky-textured, with vibrant plum and black pepper flavours, a hint of licorice, finely integrated oak, and notable depth and complexity. Still a baby; open 2017+.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Bold, youthful hue. Refined and rich, with beautifully ripe blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, supple tannins, savoury, earthy, nutty notes adding complexity, and excellent harmony. Classy, classic young merlot, likely to be long-lived.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Powerful, very youthful blend of cabernet sauvignon (75%) and merlot (25%). Deeply coloured, with vibrant, well-ripened blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, nutty, concentrated and firmly structured. A ‘serious’ wine with long-term cellaring potential.
Comments Off on Villa Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Bold, purple-flushed red, grown in the Gimblett Gravels (60%) and Bridge Pa Triangle (40%). Dense and ripe, with richly varietal, blackcurrant and spice flavours, a savoury, nutty complexity (from 17 months in French oak barriques, 30% new), and good tannin…
Comments Off on Villa Maria Cellar Selection Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Very refined, with a highly fragrant bouquet, showing indigenous yeast complexity and biscuity oak. Youthful, with concentrated , very ripe, grapefruit-like flavours, a gentle seasoning of French oak and a finely textured, rich, rounded finish. Already delicious.
Comments Off on Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Lovely, finely scented, silky-textured wine, deep, ripe and very savoury. Youthful, full-coloured red with concentrated, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours, impressive complexity and good tannin support. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Beautifully fragrant, estate-grown red, from vines planted at Wanaka in 1994. Deep ruby, with fresh plum, spice and cherry flavours, showing lovely richness, harmony and complexity. An obvious candidate for cellaring; open 2017+.
Comments Off on Maude Mt Maude Vineyard Wanaka Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Classy young red, deeply coloured and mouthfilling, with lovely depth, poise and harmony. Savoury and supple, with beautifully ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing excellent texture and complexity. Best drinking 2017+.
Comments Off on Lowburn Ferry Home Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Powerful, highly complex wine, showing real depth through the palate. Mouthfilling, with generous, ripe, peachy and mealy flavours, slightly buttery and nutty, and a finely textured, long finish. Best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Cable Bay Reserve Waiheke Island Chardonnay 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Light ruby. Supple, with fresh, lively cherry, plum, spice and herb flavours. Medium-bodied, with a spicy oak influence and gentle tannins.
Comments Off on Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Fresh, lively, sweet-fruited red, partly barrel-aged, with satisfying depth of plum and spice flavours, showing a touch of complexity. Medium-bodied, with drink-young charm.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Ruby hued, full-bodied red with moderately concentrated, ripe, plummy flavours, a touch of oak complexity and an appealing freshness.
Comments Off on Giesen Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Fruity, supple, ruby hued red with vibrant berry, plum and spice flavours, a touch of complexity and drink-young appeal.
Comments Off on Dashwood Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Enjoyable drink-young style from the Brancott Valley, with satisfying depth of vibrant plum, spice and slight herb flavours, and a hint of sweet oak.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deep ruby, with cherry, plum and slight herb flavours, showing good depth and some earthy complexity.
Comments Off on Babich Winemakers’ Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Ruby hued, full-bodied red with fresh, moderately concentrated cherry and plum flavours in a fruit-driven style with drink-young appeal.
Comments Off on Babich Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Fresh, lively and sweet-fruited. Medium-bodied, with plummy, cherryish flavours, showing a touch of complexity, a gentle oak influence and supple tannins.
Comments Off on Ara Select Blocks Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Youthful Awatere Valley red, deep ruby, with mouthfilling body and fresh, strong cherry and plum flavours. Worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Tohu Rore Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Ruby hued, vibrantly fruity Awatere Valley red with ripe plum/spice flavours, fresh and strong, and some barrel-aged complexity. Drink now or cellar.
Comments Off on Tohu Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Elegant, with vibrant, ripe cherry and plum flavours, showing very good depth. Slightly dominant oak at this stage (10 months in French barriques, 31% new), but good tannin backbone. Worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 14 Doctor’s Creek Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Sturdy and youthful, Wairau Valley red with strong, ripe, slightly nutty flavours. ‘Serious’ style, worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Misty Cove Signature Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Attractively scented Brancott Valley red with plenty of ripe, plummy, spicy flavour, showing some complexity, fine-grained tannins and good length.
Comments Off on Coopers Creek SV Gibsons Run Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Fresh, medium-bodied style from the lower Omaka Valley, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing good complexity, and fine-grained tannins. ‘Caresses the palate’, enthused one judge.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 12 Lone Gum Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deeply coloured Omaka Valley red with strong plum, cherry and spice flavours. Weighty, youthful and rich, with good complexity and potential.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 10 Twin Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Concentrated red, grown in the Omaka Valley. Savoury, with strong cherry, plum and spice flavours, well seasoned with toasty oak (French, 38% new), and good tannin support. Firm, structured style, well worth cellaring.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Deep ruby, fragrant, vibrantly fruity and supple red from the Ure Valley, midway between Blenheim and Kaikoura. Ripe cherry and plum flavours, with finely integrated oak, in a powerful but elegant style, focused and tightly structured.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 4 Sawcut Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Full-coloured, with deep, youthful cherry and plum flavours, strongly seasoned with French oak (51% new.) Mouthfilling, rich and soft, but needs time; open 2016+.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Ruby hued, attractively fragrant red with fresh, strong cherry, plum and spice flavours. Moderately complex, vibrantly fruity style, grown in the Southern Valleys and partly barrel-aged. Delicious young.
Comments Off on Saint Clair Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017
Posted: June 16, 2017
Bright ruby, with very good depth of youthful, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, balanced tannins and finely integrated oak. Savoury, slightly earthy notes add complexity. Needs time; best drinking 2016+.
Comments Off on Grove Mill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2013 / 0 View / June 16, 2017