A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
A return to a wine I’ve had throughout my career writing about wines – from my time in Europe, and the occasional glass here in New Zealand. The oldest I’ve …
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1994 Read More
A 100% Sauvignon Blanc wine, from the Parkburn Vineyard in Central Otago. An expression far removed from what the world expects from a Sauvignon Blanc in New Zealand. The juice …
Rockburn Fumé Blanc 2022 Read More
A single vineyard wine from the Briant’s vineyard in the Patutahi region of Gisborne, just across the river from Matawhero. A vibrant green-gold colour in the glass. The perfume speaks …
Matawhero Church House Chenin Blanc 2021 Read More
A Chardonnay from a well-known producer in Beechworth, Victoria (Australia) – the recent vintage winning the first 100/100 score from The Wine Advocate for an Australian white table wine. This 2018 …
Giaconda Estate Chardonnay 2018 Read More
One of the delights of working in wine is that, as well as tasting old favourites, you get to discover new labels. They are perhaps making a couple of wines …
Samuel Mark Wines – new label & releases Read More
A wine from Mills Reef, grown in the Mere Road vineyard in the Gimblett Gravels sub-region of Hawke’s Bay – and from the superb 2019 vintage. An inkily dark and …
Bespoke Cabernet Sauvignon-Cabernet Franc 2019 Read More
The current vintage of a wine I’ve encountered many times before (and reviewed on the site) From the estate vineyards in Gladstone, Wairarapa. A deep burgundy colour in the glass. …
Johner Gladstone Pinot Noir 2020 Read More
A Chardonnay from the Reed Vineyard in the Waihopai Valley – Marlborough, hand-picked and fermented with indigenous yeasts. Pale straw-green in the glass, with a struck-match reductivity that quickly ebbs …
Blank Canvas Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 Read More
A varietal that is probably Austria’s ‘national grape’ (like Sauvignon Blanc is to NZ). With not much of it grown locally, it is tricky one to track down – this …
Mount Edward Grüner Veltliner 2017 Read More
Named after a plague of mice that troubled the vineyards, this McLaren Vale wine is 100% Nero d’Avola – a wine we don’t see much of in New Zealand. A …
D’Arenberg ‘The Danger Mouse’ Nero d’Avola 2021 Read More