Reviews

An Italian varietal that has found a home in the Gimblett Gravels of Hawke’s Bay – winner of the Trophy for Champion International Red Wine Varieties at the NZIWS this …

Beach House Montepulciano 2021 Read More

A Marlborough expression of this varietal from Northern Spain. A richness and depth on the nose – pineapple, melon and white peach, as well as few flavours familiar to drinkers …

Wairau River Reserve Albarino 2023 Read More

A wine from Alexandra in Central Otago – a Double Gold at the NZIWS in 2023. A savoury style with mushroom, thyme, pepper and mocha sitting with dark cherry, cranberry …

Three Miners ‘Warden’s Court’ Pinot Noir 2021 Read More

The first release of this wine since 2018 – back from the Swamp! And a winner of another Gold Medal at NZIWS this year (it has won over 20 Gold …

Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 ‘Swamp Block’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Read More

100% Malbec wines from New Zealand can be hard to find – this one is from the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay – winner of a Gold Medal at the …

St Clair ‘James Sinclair’ Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2021 Read More

The Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show at this year’s New Zealand International Wine Show was awarded to Brancott Letter Series ‘O’ Chardonnay 2022. I judged a couple of …

Tasting the Champion – Brancott Estate Letter Series ‘O’ Chardonnay 2022 Read More

A Hawke’s Bay wine that I first admired when I moved to live in New Zealand twenty years ago. This version is from the fabled 2020 vintage, produced from Gimblett …

Mission Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Read More

From their Cairnmuir Rd vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago. A silver-green-lemon colour in the glass, with a delicate, minimal nose gradually revealing cashew, lemon peel, white peach, and muesli aromas. …

Akarua Chardonnay 2022 Read More

A Central Otago wine, and winner of a Gold Medal at NZIWS this year. A very pale, translucent silvery green colour in the glass. The rich perfume of melon, yuzu, …

Wooing Tree Pinot Gris 2023 Read More