Tag: Yvonne Lorkin

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 a soothing, saucy wine that’ll satisfy even the fussiest of crowds. For more information about this wine go to http://www.whitehaven.co.nz…

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 had to have one. I got in my car and raced to every supermarket and roadside stall (I live in…

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 to work their magic and shepherd it into the bottle. Subtle aromas of pear, peach and a hint of pineapple…

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, edged with green apple, white nectarine and mandarin. It’s a fun, frisky, flavoursome new release from fruit grown in the…

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 Vineyard. Fast-forward 86 years and their winemaker out west has stitched together a classic Bordeaux-style blend from Hawke’s Bay for…

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, deliciously smoky (from a full barrel ferment) and showing a raft of fresh, tropical, terrificness, cleansing acidity and creamy, satisfying…

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 a deep, palate imprint. Dark, inky, glossy and erupting with exotic 5 spice notes, plum, cherry, leather and cocoa characters…

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 smooth, fine-grained oak and skin tannins accentuated by beautifully balanced acidity.  Nicely made. For more information about this wine go…

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 Hastings in Maraekakaho where they grow two clones of chenin, 220 and 880.  Handpicked, cooled overnight and gently pressed to…

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 that because for sixteen bucks you have a wine that’s absolutely heaving with pineapple, peach, guava and a lick of…