A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
From a single vineyard on Havelock North Terraces, of old vine Mendoza Chardonnay. Vibrant lemon-green colour in the glass, with flinty, smoky aromas of lemon zest, cashew nut, grapefruit, nectarine, …
Te Awanga ‘Trademark’ Chardonnay 2018 Read More
Tasted with Rory Dunleavy at Te Motu. Named in dedication to Margaret Dunleavy, the green-fingered mother of eleven, Kuikui means ‘the matriarch’ in Maori. The wine making credit for the wine …
Te Motu ‘Kuikui’ Syrah 2015 Read More
From Pinot Gris grapes grown in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough, with a little Malbec blended in for colour. A light salmon pink – onion skin colour in the glass. …
Delta Rosé 2019 Read More
A dessert wine, from botrytis-affected, late harvest Sauvignon Blanc grapes, grown in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough. Plenty of years of bottle age. Brilliant golden glow in the glass, with enticing …
Isabel Estate Noble Sauvage 2008 Read More
From the Seaview vineyard in Awatere, Marlborough. A wine I discussed at length with the winemaker, Natalie Christensen – tasted as a barrel sample in May this year on a …
Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Read More
A barrel-fermented Chardonnay, from Hawke’s Bay. A bright, pale straw colour in the glass, perfumed with grapefruit, brioche, citrus peel, vanilla, nectarine and blanched almond on the nose. Dry, vibrant, …
De la Terre Barrique Fermented Chardonnay 2020 Read More
A new wine in the Single Vineyard range from Villa Maria – a Pinot Noir rosé from the BioGro-certified organic Attorney vineyard in the Southern Valleys sub-region of Marlborough. A …
Villa Maria ‘The Attorney’ Rosé 2020 Read More
From Alexandra fruit, this Central Otago Pinot Noir shows a real sense of place – shared with a couple of colleagues, we all agreed this was one of those ‘quintessential …
Three Miners ‘Warden’s Court’ Pinot Noir 2020 Read More
From Marlborough fruit – a light straw colour in the glass, with a vibrantly aromatic nose. Perfumed with mandarin, lime zest, nectarine, ginger and honeysuckle floral notes. Off-dry and light-medium …
Westbrook Riesling 2014 Read More
One of the pioneers of what I call the ‘modern Chardonnay’ style. This current release tasted with Duncan McTavish at the winery, now showing a desire for far more ‘green’ …
Man O’ War ‘Valhalla’ Chardonnay 2019 Read More