A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Named in honour of the wife of pioneer winemaker Tom McDonald; hand-picked fruit from the Omaranui vineyard in the Tutaikuri sub-region of Hawke’s Bay. A pale gold in the glass, …
Church Road ‘Gwen’ Chardonnay 2020 Read More
From the Osawa vineyard in Maraekakaho – this Bordeaux blend is a classic Hawke’s Bay red. Dark garnet in the glass, perfumed with smoky, charred plum, graphite, boysenberry, chamomile, black …
Osawa Wines ‘Flying Sheep’ Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Read More
An older version of a wine that was a big discovery for me in 2020. From Bendigo in Central Otago, a bright, lemon-green colour in the glass. Elegant and fresh, …
Quartz Reef Chardonnay 2016 Read More
From Heathcote in Central Victoria, Australia – sourced from their oldest blocks and only made in really good years. Darkest garnet in the glass, with a rich and inviting nose …
Tyrrell’s Lunatiq Shiraz 2009 Read More
Using their best fruit from Estate vineyards on Waiheke Island. Bright, pale golden-yellow, greening at the edges. Perfumed with satsuma, grapefruit, red apple, chestnut, oatmeal and lemon blossom. Crisp, enticing …
Passage Rock Reserve Chardonnay 2019 Read More
From their excellent Hawke’s Bay vineyard ‘The Limeworks’. Pale lemon-green in the glass, with a vitality and exhuberance on the nose – flush with aromas of nectarine, cashew, grapefruit, yellow …
Cooper’s Creek ‘The Limeworks’ Chardonnay 2018 Read More
From Yarra Valley fruit, this young Nebbiolo is a stunning magenta-garnet in the glass. Flush with perfumes both savoury and sweet – black cherry, thyme, cranberry, blueberry, sumac and rose …
Timo Mayer Nebbiolo 2019 Read More
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