Astrolabe Wrekin Marlborough Chenin Blanc 2018 (NZ $32) Simon Waghorn and his wife Jane Forrest-Waghorn set up Astrolabe in Marlborough back in 1996 after years of making wine in Australia and Gisborne. I love that they’ve taken a leap and…
Sileni Circle Grand Reserve Hawke’s Bay Semillon 2019 (NZ $25) Sileni were one of the very first Hawke’s Bay producers to leap into making classlc dry Semillon back in the early 2000’s. Before that, most wineries were using the variety…
Jules Taylor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (NZ $22) Get set for a whack and a wallop of passionfruit, pea pod, capsicum, basil and lime on the nose, followed by jumbo-loads of sensationally squinty acidity and tropical tension on the palate.…
Whitehaven Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 (NZ $35) Crafted from fruit grown in the Awatere and Southern Valley’s sub-regions, this little banger of a pinot noir is destined for big things. Bursting with bright tamarillo, berry tea, cherry and all manner…
Loveblock Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020 (NZ $22) This certified organic gris drives down the dry side of the street and leaves a cloud of nashi, jazz apple, quince and a sprinkle of nutmeg in its wake. Crisp, clean and flooded…
Brancott Estate Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 (NZ $19) This pinot is definitely the pumped up kicks where aromatics are concerned. Redcurrant and buckets of raspberry wash across a spicy baseline in the mouth. The acidity is hefty, the tannins…
Pegasus Bay Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2018 (NZ $52) So exotic and saucy on the nose, it could be the liquid equivalent of a Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B & Nicki Minaj co-ferment (Google them, you’ll understand). Perfumed with rain…
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (NZ $25) Sourced from fruit grown in the Wairau Valley, this is a Sauvignon that’ll soothe the throat and clear the nose in majestic fashion. No joke. It’s an ultra-concentrated, herbaceously heaving example…
Dog Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2018 (BC $33.99) I took my first sip of this wine as I signed up to Amazon Prime and hit ‘play’ on the UK hit program ‘Fleabag’ and I can tell you right now that…
Whitehaven Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (NZ $22) Classic, punchy, passionfruit-packed and citrus-saturated Sauvignon Blanc here from one of Marlborough’s original wine families. Its whipcrack acidity gives it a cleansing, texture and accentuates the basil, lime and tomato leaf layers. It’s…