A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Using fruit from a site up the hill in Bendigo, Central Otago. A dark ruby in the glass, with evocatively “Central Pinot” scents of crushed thyme, cherry, bonfire, cocoa, mushroom, …
Matt Connell Single Vineyard Bendigo Pinot Noir 2020 Read More
From one of South Australia’s premium sub-regions, and a winner of a Gold medal at the 2023 New Zealand International Wine Show. Interesting to see this blend, compared to the …
Riddoch Coonawarra ‘Man of Many’ Cabernet Malbec 2021 Read More
A white wine from the Gladstone sub-region of Wairarapa. The potential and charisma of this varietal in the Wairarapa shows again and again – with fine examples from Palliser, B-wine, …
Urlar Gladstone Sauvignon Blanc 2022 Read More
From Puriri Hills in Clevedon, Auckland – a red blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Carmenère and Malbec. It feels very Merlot-heavy, with the plum fruits and medicinal tang …
Mokoroa 2019 Read More
A wine from North Canterbury – made by the original owners Mike and Claudia Weersing. As the label informs: “Raised by hand and foot, palate and mind. No commercial yeasts, …
Pyramid Valley ‘Angel Flower’ Pinot Noir 2010 Read More
Pinot Noir fruit from the Barber vineyard goes into this lighter style of primary-fermentation bubbles. No sense of the cloudy funkiness so prevalent in many NZ Pét-Nats. This is clear, …
Bryterlater ‘Petina’ Pétillant-Naturel 2021 Read More
Translating to mean ‘roots’ in te reo Māori, the ‘22 vintage is a Syrah from a small family-owned vineyard in Hawke’s Bay. A vibrant garnet-purple in the glass, with varietally-precise …
Pakiaka Syrah 2022 Read More
From this now-defunct label’s top tier of wines – Vidal produced some excellent wines in the first twenty years of this century in particular. A well-regarded and age-worthy Chardonnay – …
Vidal ‘Legacy’ Chardonnay 2013 Read More
A special edition Méthode from the masters of the art in New Zealand – 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir, 43 months on lees, and just 150 bottles produced – …
No. 1 Family Estate ‘Cuvée Adèle’ Méthode Traditionelle 2016 Read More
A red blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc) from the Owhanake Peninsula on Waiheke island, and an excellent vintage. A deep, inky purple colour in the glass. …
Stormwood ‘Meritage’ 2020 Read More