A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
From selected sites in Marlborough. A very pale green-gold colour in the glass. An energetic burst of flinty, wood smoke and struck match on the nose lies above the underlying, …
The Marlborist Chardonnay 2020 Read More
A blend that originated in the vineyards of Tasmania, Tumbarumba, and the Adelaide Hills, following Penfolds art of blending from regions to achieve a coherent whole. A lighter straw and …
Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2022 Read More
A Sonoma Coast Chardonnay – from a producer that has really impressed me in the past. A vibrant gold and green colour in the glass, with a little opacity to …
Aubert UV-SL Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 Read More
A rare wine from Martinborough – the pinnacle of the Estate, and only made in exceptional years – only a handful of vintages exist. A dark and opaque burgundy red …
Martinborough Vineyard ‘Marie Zelie’ Reserve Pinot Noir 2013 Read More
A white wine from Spain – their ‘Les Torres’ estate, at the top of the Penedès – just 30 km from the Mediterranean coast and Barcelona. A transparent lemon-green colour in …
Parés Baltà ‘Indigena’ Garnaxta Blanc 2022 Read More
One of the pioneers of what I call the ‘modern Chardonnay’ style – the winery now showing a desire for far more ‘green’ in the spectrum, and picked earlier than …
Man O’ War ‘Valhalla’ Chardonnay 2020 Read More
A Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. A pale lemon-green colour in the glass. Perfumed with citrus, whitecurrant, apple and cucumber, with a lifted and distinctive meadow grass …
Marathon Downs ‘Racecourse Block’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Read More
From the Bay of Islands in Northland. A lighter, translucent ruby colour in the glass. The scent starts savoury, with cashew nut, incense smoke, pepper, then damson plum, liquorice and …
144 Islands Cabernet Franc 2023 Read More
A single vineyard wine from this excellent Marlborough label. I’ve reviewed most of their wines before (including the 2018 vintage of this), and interviewed local legend Brian Bicknell – https://winefolio.co.nz/?p=3717 …
Mahi Alchemy Chardonnay 2021 Read More
A Central Otago Chardonnay – from Te Kano’s Northburn & Bannockburn vineyards. A very pale straw colour in the glass. Boldly aromatic, with peach, apple, cashew, citrus, wood smoke, baking …
Te Kano ‘Life’ Chardonnay 2021 Read More