Wither Hills Single Vineyard Taylor River Marlborough Pinot Noir 2017 (NZ $25.99) Here’s the thing. I tasted this wine and immediately wrote ‘Black Doris Plum’ – then it wouldn’t let me go. It’s the perfect season for them and I…
Moana Park Estate Growers’ Collection Gisborne Chardonnay 2020 (NZ $25) Gisborne has a reputation for turning out classic, tropical, peachy, creamy styles that wow the crowds, and that’s why the Moana Park have opted to source fruit from the region…
Loveblock Tee Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (NZ $26.99) Straight out the gate this is unlike any Sauvignon Blanc I’ve tasted recently. Perfumed with lemon verbena, lemongrass, soft herbaceousness and a whisker of marzipan, on the palate it’s crunchy-fresh and flinty,…
Soljans Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Malbec 2016 (NZ $22) In 1927, Bartul Soljan and his wife Rakelina sailed to New Zealand with their children, found land out in Henderson, broke it in, planted vines, and in 1932 established Soljan’s Family…
Tiki Single Vineyard Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 (NZ $24.99) If you’re looking for seriously juicy chardonnay that powers pineapple, peach, citrus oils and a luscious lick of spicy, caramelised oak across your olfactories, then this is the business. Beautifully balanced,…
Mills Reef Reserve Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2018 NZ$24.95 Paul Dawick and Tim Preston are the crack team of talent behind Mills Reef, and Merlot is their monster truck when it comes to wines that plough across your tastebuds and leave…
Mills Reef Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 (NZ $24.95) Green peppercorn, violet and blueberry aromatics stand shoulder to shoulder with bright plum and cherry flavours and then they hold hands and do the Gay Gordons (remember primary school folk-dancing?) with…
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve Hawke’s Bay Chenin Blanc 2019 (NZ$29) Returning to his dry-style roots not seen since 2013, winemaker Gordon Russell has taken fruit for the first time from Ian and Linda Quinn’s Two Terraces Vineyard located west of…
Selaks 1934 Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 (NZ $16.99) Created in homage to the year that Marino Selak sold his first vintage of wine, this new range boasts a chardonnay that I’m certain will become a ‘best value classic’. I say…
Hunter’s Wines Home Block Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (NZ$30) They might be one of Marlborough (nay, New Zealand’s) oldest and most successful wine companies, but it’s taken them until now to declare an ‘icon’ release Sauvignon Blanc. Their young winemaker,…