Posted: April 20, 2017
Still unfolding, this organically certified red was hand-harvested, fermented with indigenous yeasts and bottled unfiltered. Freshly scented, it is floral, full-bodied and supple, with strong, youthful cherry and plum flavours, oak complexity and obvious potential; open mid-2018+. $40 (UK)
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, this youthful red was grown at Rapaura, hand-harvested and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (25% new). Well worth cellaring, it has ripe, cherryish, plummy, slightly nutty flavours, gentle tannins, balanced acidity and very good…
Comments Off on Staete Landt State of Grace Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Hard to resist right now, this light gold dessert wine was hand-picked at 34 brix, with a noble rot infection, and partly barrel-fermented. Rich and smooth, it is seductively sweet, with strong, peachy, honeyed flavours. $24
Comments Off on Spy Valley Iced (375ml) Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This distinctive, dry wine was hand-picked and fermented in an even split of tanks and old oak barrels. Light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, with vibrant, peachy flavours, showing good richness, balanced acidity, and the subtle oak influence giving a distinct…
Comments Off on Sileni Estate Selection Priestess Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Forward in its appeal, but still youthful, this deeply coloured red is full-bodied (15% alc/vol), with gentle tannins, strong, ripe plum and spice flavours, hints of coffee and licorice, and a seasoning of sweet oak (French and American, 40% new)….
Comments Off on Sileni Estate Selection Cut Cane Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deeply coloured Hawke’s Bay red, mouthfilling, very fresh and smooth, with strong, ripe, plummy, slightly spicy and nutty flavours, and gentle tannins. Delicious young. $38
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deeply coloured, with generous, fresh berry, plum, spice and herb flavours, seasoned with sweet oak, and gentle tannins. Already drinking well. $38
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 17 Plateau Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Still very youthful, this mouthfilling, tightly structured wine was grown in the Omaka Valley. Pale lemon/green, it has fresh, generous, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, good drive through the palate and a dry, lengthy finish. Best drinking 2018+. $27
Comments Off on Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Marlborough Gruner Veltliner 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Grown in the Southern Valleys, this is a deep ruby, full-bodied, sweet-fruited red, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, a hint of dried herbs, and good complexity. It’s still very youthful; open 2018+. $28
Comments Off on Saint Clair James Sinclair Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Maturing well, this is a mouthfilling, fruit-driven, creamy-textured wine, estate-grown in the Gimblett Gravels, with vibrant, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, lively, dry and smooth. Ready; no rush. $21
Comments Off on Saint Clair Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This limited release (five barrels) was fermented and lees-aged for 15 months in seasoned oak barriques. Fleshy and smoothly textured, it is mouthfilling, with ripe, tropical fruit flavours, slightly spicy and nutty, a strong seasoning of oak and obvious potential;…
Comments Off on Saint Clair Barrique Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Drinking well now, this is a full-bodied, generous wine with a gentle splash of sweetness and strong, peachy, slightly spicy and honeyed flavours. (From Pegasus Bay.) $21 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Main Divide Waipara Pinot Gris 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Drinking well now, this blend of syrah (41%) and classic Bordeaux grapes was estate-grown in the Esk Valley and matured for 15 months in French oak barriques. Full but not dense in colour, it is fragrant, with ripe, plummy, spicy…
Comments Off on Linden Estate Syrah Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Malbec Hawke’s Bay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Finely textured, with good complexity, this estate-grown red was hand-picked from 15 year-old vines in the lower Waihopai Valley. Bright ruby, it is full-bodied and savoury, with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, excellent depth and considerable potential;…
Comments Off on Lake Chalice The Raptor Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Offering good value, this very generous, merlot-predominant blend was grown in Hawke’s Bay and barrel-aged. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours to the fore, fine-grained tannins and slightly nutty, savoury notes adding…
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Le Phant 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Already drinking well, this full-coloured, fine value red has a very floral bouquet, with hints of plums and black pepper. Softly mouthfilling, it has generous, ripe plum/spice flavours, hints of licorice and dark chocolate, slightly nutty notes adding complexity, and…
Comments Off on Church Road Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Maturing well, this is a distinctly medium style, with strong, ripe citrus, passionfruit and lime flavours, a vague hint of honey, balanced acidity and good harmony. Drink now or cellar. $27
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Riesling 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Certified organic, this characterful wine was hand-picked from 21 year-old vines, fermented with indigenous yeasts and barrel-fermented. Full-bodied and youthful, it is finely textured, with strong, ripe, peachy, biscuity flavours, complex and savoury, and a lasting, very harmonious finish. Best…
Comments Off on Walnut Block Nutcracker Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Floral and ruby hued, this very refined red was matured for almost a year in French oak casks (30% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Attractively perfumed, it is cherryish, spicy and nutty, with fresh acidity, a vague hint of…
Comments Off on Valli Waitaki Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This fragrant, weighty, estate-grown wine was hand-harvested at Rapaura, barrel-fermented and oak-aged for 15 months. Light lemon/green, it is still very youthful, with generous, ripe, citrusy, peachy flavours, balanced acidity, biscuity notes adding complexity and a lingering finish. Best drinking…
Comments Off on Staete Landt Josephine Marlborough Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Scented and savoury, this stylish red is merlot-based (64%), with smaller portions of cabernet sauvignon (20%), cabernet franc (15%) and malbec (1%). Estate-grown in the Esk Valley of Hawke’s Bay and French oak-matured for over a year, it is full-coloured,…
Comments Off on Linden Estate Reserve Dam Block 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This elegant, ageworthy wine was hand-picked at Te Awanga and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barriques (25% new). The bouquet is fragrant and slightly nutty; the palate vibrant and youthful, with good weight and strong peach and grapefruit-like…
Comments Off on Elephant Hill Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This bold, deeply coloured and sweet-fruited red is still very youthful. Matured for a year in French oak casks (35% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered, it is rich and fruit-packed, plummy and spicy, showing excellent concentration, structure and complexity….
Comments Off on Valli Bendigo Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Showing obvious potential, this sturdy, concentrated red was matured for a year in French oak casks (30% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, it is generous and savoury, with fine-grained tannins, layers of ripe, plummy, spicy, nutty flavours,…
Comments Off on Valli Vineyard Bannockburn Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This deliciously rich and graceful red was matured for a year in French oak casks (33% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep ruby, it is full-bodied and supple, with fresh acidity and concentrated, vibrant cherry, plum and spice flavours,…
Comments Off on Valli Gibbston Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This classy, finely textured red is bright ruby, with an enticing fragrance. Elegant, savoury and supple, it has youthful, vibrant cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing excellent delicacy, complexity and length. $50 (A)
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Jackson’s Block Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This distinguished wine is from 30 year-old vines at Waipara. The bouquet is fragrant and youthful; the palate weighty, sweet-fruited and smooth, with deep, peachy, mealy, slightly spicy and buttery flavours and a very finely balanced, long, savoury finish. Already…
Comments Off on Pegasus Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Exotically perfumed, this rich, finely balanced wine was hand-harvested and handled without oak. Light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling and smooth, with a gentle splash of sweetness and a lovely surge of fresh, ripe, peachy, spicy flavours. Finely textured and harmonious,…
Comments Off on Johanneshof Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Full of potential, this rich, sturdy red was grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle and the Gimblett Gravels, matured for 17 months in French oak casks, and bottled unfiltered. Powerful yet elegant, it is still very youthful, with dense plum…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This powerful, multi-faceted wine was hand-harvested and barrel-fermented with indigenous yeasts. The bouquet is highly fragrant, with a hint of ‘struck match’; the palate mouthfilling and generous, with concentrated, ripe stonefruit flavours, showing excellent complexity, harmony and length. Already delicious,…
Comments Off on Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Showing strong personality, this is an exotically perfumed, complex, intensely varietal wine, full-bodied, with an oily texture and concentrated, peachy, gingery, spicy flavours, dryish, rounded and rich. $27
Comments Off on Ataahua Waipara Gewurztraminer 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Fresh, lively, single-vineyard Northland red, matured in old French barriques. Full-coloured, medium-bodied wine, with plum, spice, herb and olive flavours, showing some savoury complexity. $24
Comments Off on Byrne Puketotara Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Easy-drinking Waiheke Island red, full-coloured, with a peppery, slightly earthy bouquet. Generous plum, spice and dried herb flavours, gently seasoned with toasty oak, and a smooth finish. $38
Comments Off on Obsidian Estate Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Full-coloured, medium weight Waiheke Island red with fresh, plummy, spicy flavours, hints of olives and herbs, a gentle seasoning of toasty oak, fine-grained tannins and a smooth finish. $38
Comments Off on Awaroa Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Generous, weighty Northland red with full, bright colour and excellent richnesss through the palate. Strong, ripe, red berry and spice flavours, seasoned with sweet oak. One judge scored it five stars. $38
Comments Off on The Landing Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Dark, weighty, single-vineyard red, matured in French and American oak casks (14% new). Fragrant and full-bodied, with rich, strongly varietal blackberry, plum and spice flavours, good complexity and a lingering finish. One judge scored it five stars. $38 (A, UK,…
Comments Off on Soho Valentina Waiheke Island Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Fragrant, peppery, single-vineyard Northland red, matured in French oak casks (50% new). Concentrated blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, hints of raisins and smoky oak, and impressive ripeness and depth. $36
Comments Off on Byrne Te Puna Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Concentrated, finely textured Waiheke Island red, still very youthful. Rich black berry, spice, licorice and toasty oak flavours, with fine-grained tannins and excellent balance and length. Well worth cellaring. One judge scored it five stars. $65
Comments Off on Awaroa Melba Peach Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Strongly varietal, single-vineyard Northland red, matured in French oak barriques (one-third new). Full-coloured, perfumed, weighty and savoury, with excellent depth of blackcurrant, plum, licorice and spice flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, and ripe, supple tannins. Fine value. $32
Comments Off on Byrne Waingaro Syrah 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This deeply coloured, generous red was hand-harvested from 25 year-old vines in Northland and oak-aged for a year. It has ripe, plummy, spicy, slightly gamey flavours, seasoned with sweet oak, in a soft, very drinkable style. $28
Comments Off on Marsden Estate Pinotage 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
This deeply coloured red was matured in French and American oak casks. Medium-bodied, it has generous red berry, plum and spice flavours, with finely integrated oak adding savoury, complex notes, and a smooth finish. $38
Comments Off on Obsidian Estate Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Fragrant, lively, Waiheke Island blend of merlot (44%), malbec (27%), cabernet franc (20%) and cabernet sauvignon (9%), French and American oak-aged. Moderately rich, berryish, spicy flavours, with fresh acidity and gentle tannins. $38 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Soho Revolver 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Full-coloured, Waiheke Island red with generous blackcurrant, plum, herb, spice and nut flavours. Slighty leafy, but shows very good depth and complexity. $65
Comments Off on Awaroa The Dan Cabernet/Syrah /Malbec 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Ageworthy, structured Waiheke Island blend of cabernet sauvignon (60%), merlot (25%) and malbec (15%). Full-coloured, with concentrated blackcurrant, spice and nutty oak flavours, braced by firm, ripe tannins. Best drinking 2019+. $65
Comments Off on Awaroa Requiem Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deeply coloured, Waiheke Island blend of merlot (70%) and malbec (30%), seasoned with toasty oak. Fleshy, concentrated, spicy and savoury, with good tannin backbone. $38
Comments Off on Awaroa Merlot Malbec 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Deep ruby, with gentle tannins, spicy and herbal notes, and generous, ripe, slightly earthy and nutty flavours. $39
Comments Off on Gladstone Vineyard Gladstone Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Bright ruby, youthful red, sweet-fruited and supple, with a lovely balance of fruit and oak, and a savoury, spicy complexity. Fine value. $27 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Te Kairanga Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Mouthfilling, savoury, deep ruby red with strong plum/spice flavours, good complexity, a hint of herbs and a fairly firm finish. “Needs time”, noted one judge. $45 (A)
Comments Off on Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Fragrant, ruby hued, savoury red. Generous, cherryish, slightly spicy flavours, showing good complexity, with hints of dried herbs and toast, and silky tannins giving gentleness to the palate. $54 (A, UK, US)
Comments Off on Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017
Posted: April 20, 2017
Ruby hued, very fresh and lively, with generous, youthful cherry, plum and spice flavours. Supple, with finely integrated oak. $30 (A, UK)
Comments Off on Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Martinborough Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / April 20, 2017