A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Made with fruit from 25+ year old vines from the Howell Vineyard in the Bridge Pa sub-region of Hawke’s Bay, which has a silty, clay soil over free draining red …
Smith & Sheth CRU Heretaunga Cabernet Franc 2019 Read More
Fruit from the Te Makiri Road vineyard, in Waiheke Island’s Onetangi Valley. A site that is warm, with free-draining soils and long autumn ripening which suits the late-ripening Montepulciano, helping …
Obsidian Estate Montepulciano 2018 Read More
From a relatively even growing season that didn’t have the heat of 2003. Under cork in good condition especially considering age. Amazing depth of medium garnet colour, with little signs …
Dry River Pinot Noir 2004 Read More
A wine from the Talon vineyard in the Dillons Point sub-region in Marlborough’s Lower Wairau Valley. This area produced five of the top seven wines in our last Top 10 …
Lake Chalice ‘The Falcon’ Sauvignon Blanc 2025 Read More
A fairly rare red grape variety in New Zealand – the wines from it are perhaps best known from Italy. This one is from Marlborough – sourced from a tiny …
Forrest Lagrein 2024 Read More
From the Tin Shed vineyard located at 125 Gimblett Road in the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. 71% Clone 95 and 29% Clone 548 fruit was hand harvested and …
Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Chardonnay 2019 Read More
Regular readers will know that I keep a close eye on Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and at a recent tasting courtesy of the NZ Sommelier Society in downtown Auckland, there was …
Spy Valley ‘Block wines’ (a virtual Cellar Door trip) Read More
The fruit was sourced from the Redstone Vineyard in the Bridge Pa Triangle area in Hawke’s Bay which is the vineyard primarily used for the Tom Syrah in the years …
Church Road Grand Reserve Syrah 2015 Read More
The Ten Acre Pinot Noir is sourced from a single vineyard in the Gibbston Valley sub-region of Central Otago, known for one of the coolest microclimate in the area. A …
Ayrburn Ten Acre Pinot Noir 2024 Read More
A single estate Malbec, from the Bridge Pa Triangle in Hawke’s Bay. A dense, super-dark purple colour in the glass. A distinctive bouquet which is noticeably spicy, with black pepper, …
Ash Ridge Premium Malbec 2021 Read More