A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Courtesy of sparring partner and retired winemaker, Larry McKenna; comes the chance to try an older vintage of a wine I’ve had a few goes at recently. The oldest version …
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1998 Read More
A return to a WineFolio favourite – the 2018 vintage was the winning wine in our Top 10 tasting of New Zealand Chardonnays. The 2020 vintage is also now the …
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Chardonnay 2020 Read More
Daniel Brennan’s ‘Big red’ of his stable of Testify/Decibel/Giunta wines. This year it is still Gimblett Gravels fruit, but with 20% Merlot joining the Malbec party. A dense dark purple …
Testify ‘Red’ 2020 Read More
At a long weekend staying at Clearview Homestead recently, not only did I get to taste a regional selection of the 2020 Hawke’s Bay Chardonnays; a long afternoon of Californian …
A tour around the best of Australian Chardonnays Read More
From the Kupe vineyard just east of Martinborough on its terraced, alluvial gravel soils, comes this top-drawer Pinot Noir, made one of the country’s legendary winemakers – Larry McKenna. Huw …
Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2013 Read More
Made from grapes planted many years ago by Clearview Estate legend Tim Turvey and daughter Katie at Te Awanga, Hawke’s Bay. A brilliant pale lemon gold, with voluminous aromas that …
Topsy Turvey Chardonnay 2020 Read More
Made for the first time in 2020 from “an exceptional year, perfect grapes and five barrels” according to David Evans at the winery. A deep, dense inky black claret in …
Passage Rock ‘Generation’ 2020 Read More
From one of the classic sub-regions for great Chardonnay, but a tricky hail and rain-affected vintage in 2008. A mid-golden straw colour in the glass, showing some bottle age. Nicely …
Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2008 Read More
Reviewed for “Pinot Gris Day 2022” Golden yellow straw coloured, with green edges; and a lively nose filled with classic Pinot Gris aromatics – pear, guava, rockmelon, lime leaf, mandarin, …
Rockburn Pinot Gris 2021 Read More
From Waiheke Island, and a vintage described as ‘a very ripe and very Mediterranean style vintage’. Dense and inky ruby purple colour. Brooding and aromatic on the nose, with youthful …
Destiny Bay ‘Destinae’ 2010 Read More