A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
A Hawke’s Bay Syrah, from the very good 2021 vintage. A medium-density garnet red in the glass. Vividly aromatic, with spices, savoury notes and sweet ripe fruits all contributing to …
Alpha Domus Barnstormer Syrah 2021 Read More
A Sauvignon Blanc from prime vineyard land on Rapaura Road in Marlborough. A translucent pale green-straw colour in the glass. Powerful and complex aromas emerge instantly on opening. Starts with …
Rimapere ‘Plot 101’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Read More
Another box full of delights to discover, from the team at Laithwaites. As usual, there are a swathe of wines that I wouldn’t normally encounter. We are creatures of habit, …
A Spring box to discover, from laithwaites.co.nz Read More
A Riesling from the Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg vineyard in the Nahe Region of Germany. A youthful and pale lemon-green colour in the glass. The perfume shows grapefruit, lemon, green apple, chamomile, jalapeno, …
Dönnhof Felsenberg GG Riesling 2023 Read More
A Grenache from 150-year-old vines in the biodynamically-farmed Schlieb’s Garden Vineyard in the Barossa Valley. Quite pale and translucent in the glass – a delicate magenta-garnet colour. The nose is …
Reed ‘Coeur’ Grenache 2022 Read More
Having recently done the Top 10 Tasting of Syrah, including a ‘Top 10 over 10’ which has a 2013 vintage of this wine… so super-interesting to try another (and 2014 …
Paritua Syrah 2014 Read More
‘Velvet’ is Mudbrick Estate on Waiheke Island’s top tier red wine. For this vintage, it has renamed ‘Robyn’s Velvet’ in honour of Robyn Skelton, the co-founder of Mudbrick, who died …
Mudbrick Robyn’s Velvet 2024 Read More
A rosé made from Central Otago Pinot Noir. Quite a bright and darker tone of pink than I’m seeing whilst judging rosé lately – a deep copper orangey-pink colour here. …
Rockburn ‘Stolen Kiss’ Rosé 2025 Read More
From one of the oldest vineyards in Gibbston, Central Otago. A dark purple colour in the glass. The perfume has a complex blend of floral – lilac and rose petal; …
Takapoto Estate Single Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir 2019 Read More
A wine that received a 100/100 score from John Schreiner – a well-respected Canadian wine critic. It comes from the Jagged Rock vineyard in the Okanagan Valley. A pale straw …
CheckMate Little Pawn Chardonnay 2022 Read More