A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Using hand-picked Clone 15 Chardonnay grapes from the vineyard block next to the winery – in a great vintage. Translucently pale and a lemon-green colour in the glass. Grapefruit, satsuma, …
Paritua ‘Willow’ Chardonnay 2024 Read More
Sundial is Jordan Hogg’s white blend – in 2024 it is Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner and Pinot Gris. Harvested as a field blend, then foot stomped, and pressed together. …
Atipico ‘Sundial’ 2024 Read More
One of a few expressions of the varietal from the North Canterbury pioneers. A pale gold colour in the glass, with a voluminous bouquet that floods the senses with notes …
Pegasus Bay Riesling 2025 Read More
A white wine from Matakana, north of Auckland. I didn’t buy the wine, but I hear the story that the name comes from the grapevines not being quite what the …
OBV Matakana ‘The Impostor’ 2024 Read More
A Martinborough Pinot Noir from this well-regarded producer whose wines sell out on allocation, so can be very tricky to find and taste. The definition of a ‘cult wine’ (read …
Kusuda Pinot Noir 2018 Read More
Winemaker Ashleigh Barrowman gets fruit from the biodynamic Wrekin Vineyard in the Brancott Valley, Marlborough, and makes a range of single-varietal wines. I reviewed the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay before …
Siren ‘Queen of Cups’ Chenin Blanc Read More
A Pinot Noir from Bannockburn in Central Otago, using fruit from the estate vineyard. A deep ruby purple colour in the glass. Boysenberry, black cherry, damson and bramble fruits, with …
Akarua Pinot Noir 2023 Read More
The 2025 vintage of this wine was sent in for the WineFolio Top 10 Tasting in December 2025 – and was soooo close to making the list. In fact it …
Palliser Estate Sauvignon Blanc – 2016 vs 2025 Read More
A wine from Marlborough – and the company’s 13-hectare Corners Vineyard in the heart of the Wairau plains. A pale steely green colour in the glass. Good varietal typicity, with …
Rock Ferry The Corners Vineyard Grüner Veltliner 2020 Read More
A wine from Manutuke in the Gisborne region – tasted at the Cellar Door when I visited. The perfume shows a smoky ‘struck-match’ flintiness at first, giving way to peach, …
Natural Wine Co. Organic Chardonnay 2022 Read More