A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
A Martinborough region wine, showing earthy, savoury notes over bold aromatics of dark plum, cherry, walnut and boysenberry. A solid backbone of oak, fine, tea-stained tannins with a little grip, …
Butterworth Layline Pinot Noir 2020 Read More
A deep ruby, flashes of both cardinal red and magenta at the edges. Vivid ‘pinosity’ on the nose, with aromatics of crushed thyme, raspberry, dark cherry, mocha, blueberry and a …
Felton Road Cornish Point Pinot Noir 2008 Read More
A Sauternes – Premier Grand Cru Classé – to match with a Tarte Tatin at the weekend. A light golden butter colour in the glass, with aromatics that are both …
Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 1990 Read More
A magnum of one of my favourite Chardonnays – I’d been keeping it for a meal worthy of it – and opened this weekend after twelve years careful hoarding. A …
Villa Maria Ihumatao Chardonnay 2010 Read More
A rare find in New Zealand, for this first vintage of the Askerne block of Italian varietal Barbera. A gleaming jewel-like pale ruby colour in the glass. Bright, young and …
Askerne Barbera 2021 Read More
A Barossa Shiraz, with fruit from Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. A dark, brooding, deepest purple colour in the glass; with aromas of boysenberry, coffee bean, cherry, star anise, cassis, …
John Duval Entity Shiraz 2019 Read More
The Trophy-winning Champion Champagne at NZIWS this year. Bright and light – in the glass and on the nose. Cider apple, golden peach, almond, apricot and lime flavours with a …
Christian Senez Brut Cuvée Renoir Champagne NV Read More
A deep ruby, garnet in the glass, with bold aromatics to match the colour. Raspberry, espresso, redcurrant, fig, roasted plum, morello cherry, tobacco and rose petal on the nose. Firm …
Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro Chianti Classico 2016 Read More
From Northland, nice to see a single varietal bottling of Cabernet Franc. A bright deep ruby colour, with fragrant aromatics of cranberry, blackcurrant, cloves, plum, black olive, thyme and rosehip. …
Dancing Petrel Cabernet Franc 2020 Read More
Hand-picked grapes from the Herringbone vineyard in Bridge Pa, made into wine by Daniel Brennan – their first vintage. Vibrant, youthful aromatics of blueberry, plum, five spice, boysenberry, nutella and …
Herringbone Syrah 2021 Read More