A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Palest green-yellow in the glass; with bright, toasty-smoky aromas – the ‘modern’ New Zealand Chardonnay on the nose – flinty, slightly smoky oak, citrus, peach, roast cashew and grapefruit. Medium-weighted, …
Awatere River ‘Louis Vavasour’ Chardonnay 2018 Read More
Nicknamed “Black Ops” this Bendigo Pinot Noir was one of the stars of the recent Winetopia show in Auckland, and was one of my favourite wines of the recent ‘Top …
Quartz Reef ‘Single Ferment’ Pinot Noir 2019 Read More
A new vintage of the wine that won the WineFolio ‘Top 10 Tasting’ of Syrah early this year. Elegant, varietal perfume, showing dark berries, cherry, raspberry, and violets. Vivid and …
The Landing Syrah 2019 Read More
From the Kuranui vineyard in the Upper Awatere – a great place for Pinot. Fresh and inviting on the nose, with dried herb, plum, redcurrant, bramble, violets and toffee-caramel aromas. …
Leveret Estate Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2015 Read More
A new label to me – from the Wairarapa, neat presentation. A delightful pale salmon pink in the glass. Dry in style and perfumed with a cranberry, cherry, red apple, …
Le Grá Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 Read More
A deep, dark, ruby hue in the glass. The nose is firm, leading with raspberry, black cherry, damson, elderberry, Campari – then violets, thyme and bayleaf follow through. Medium to …
Church Road Grand Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 Read More
A new label to me – from the North Canterbury region of Waipara. Dark ruby/crimson, with blueberry, raspberry and doris plum, lavender, truffle and thyme on the nose. A savoury …
Dancing Water Pinot Noir 2019 Read More
Edition 2 of this wine that became quite the talking point on release last year. Pale green/lemon yellow in the glass. The nose is clean, bright with elegance and depth. …
Helio Chardonnay 2020 Read More
Very pale lemon yellow in the glass, with a restrained nose of jasmine, satsuma, melon, lemongrass and just a hint of petrol. Much bigger through the palate. Ripe, succulent and …
Lake Chalice The Falcon Riesling 2020 Read More
What was Tony’s top level wine (before ‘Zen’) this barrel-fermented wine comes from the much-admired, dry-farmed Skeetfield vineyard in Dartmoor, Hawke’s Bay. An effusive nose, serving up red apple, sweetcorn, …
Tony Bish Skeetfield Chardonnay 2019 Read More