Reviews

A Chardonnay from Te Muna Road on the outskirts of Martinborough. A pale golden-green colour in the glass. The perfume is brightly vibrant, with just a nip of reductivity, plenty …

Butterworth Te Muna Chardonnay 2022 Read More

A multi-vintage sparkling wine, made in the ‘Méthode Traditionnelle’ and hand-corked! I found the bottle really quite tricky to open, with a long, tight-fitting cork. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% …

Matahiwi ‘M’ Methode Traditionnelle NV Read More

A white blend of Chardonnay and Riesling from Nelson, sealed under cork and wax. A pale golden colour in the glass, with both a ‘funky’ and a ‘regular’ side to …

Brood Fermentation ‘Pollen’ 2022 Read More

From the excellent 2020 vintage, this is a blend of 58 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 42 percent Merlot, grown in the Gimblett Gravels sub-district of Hawke’s Bay. A bright but …

Saint Clair ‘Origin’ Cabernet Merlot 2020 Read More

A year on, almost to the day, of our last evening tasting Bordeaux-only wines… travelling on that occasion to the other side of the Gironde – our small group of …

An evening on the Left Bank Read More

A Martinborough Pinot Noir from this well-regarded producer, in a vintage generally described as ‘above average’ but not a classic. A medium-density burgundy colour in the glass, with a slight …

Kusuda Pinot Noir 2011 Read More

Stonecroft, in the Gimblett Gravels, Hawke’s Bay, have the oldest Zinfandel vines in New Zealand – although even here there are just a few rows at the Roy’s Hill Vineyard. …

Stonecroft Zinfandel 2022 Read More

Sealed under cork (and wax seal), this is the top tier of white wines at this Te Awanga vineyard in Hawke’s Bay. A vibrant golden-straw, with flashes of green at …

Clearview Endeavour Chardonnay 2018 Read More

A Pinot Noir from Nelson, using whole bunch and some carbonic maceration in the making. A translucently light but bright garnet red colour in the glass. A sous-bois, earth, spice …

Luta Shadow Pinot Noir 2021 Read More