A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
A wine from Alexandra in Central Otago – a Double Gold at the NZIWS in 2023. A savoury style with mushroom, thyme, pepper and mocha sitting with dark cherry, cranberry …
Three Miners ‘Warden’s Court’ Pinot Noir 2021 Read More
The first release of this wine since 2018 – back from the Swamp! And a winner of another Gold Medal at NZIWS this year (it has won over 20 Gold …
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 ‘Swamp Block’ Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Read More
100% Malbec wines from New Zealand can be hard to find – this one is from the Gimblett Gravels in Hawke’s Bay – winner of a Gold Medal at the …
St Clair ‘James Sinclair’ Gimblett Gravels Malbec 2021 Read More
The Trophy for Champion Wine of the Show at this year’s New Zealand International Wine Show was awarded to Brancott Letter Series ‘O’ Chardonnay 2022. I judged a couple of …
Tasting the Champion – Brancott Estate Letter Series ‘O’ Chardonnay 2022 Read More
A Hawke’s Bay wine that I first admired when I moved to live in New Zealand twenty years ago. This version is from the fabled 2020 vintage, produced from Gimblett …
Mission Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 Read More
From their Cairnmuir Rd vineyard in Bannockburn, Central Otago. A silver-green-lemon colour in the glass, with a delicate, minimal nose gradually revealing cashew, lemon peel, white peach, and muesli aromas. …
Akarua Chardonnay 2022 Read More
A Central Otago wine, and winner of a Gold Medal at NZIWS this year. A very pale, translucent silvery green colour in the glass. The rich perfume of melon, yuzu, …
Wooing Tree Pinot Gris 2023 Read More
From Waiau in North Canterbury – on the limestone hills inland from Waipara. The ferment starts in the vineyard itself, cementing a sense of place in the wine in your …
Forager Pinot Noir 2020 Read More
From a vineyard named after the stud Jersey bulls who grazed the paddock where this vineyard is now planted in the Omaka Valley, Marlborough. A pale green-gold in the glass. …
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Gruner Veltliner 2021 Read More
From Pallier Estate’s organic ‘Om Santi Vineyard’ in Martinborough. A pale lemon-gold colour in the glass. The perfume is complex, rich and flowing – cut with grapefruit and lemon curd …
Palliser Estate Om Santi Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 Read More