A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Turning to a new chapter in the on-going adventures in wine discovery, courtesy of Laithwaites. The box this month contains a range of wines – expect the unexpected! We’ll start …
Spring surprises from laithwaites.co.nz Read More
From one of the oldest vineyards in Tasmania, overlooking historic Marion Bay. A bright ruby-purple colour in the glass. An immediate note of smoky oak on the nose, alongside black …
Bream Creek Reserve Pinot Noir 2022 Read More
Chateau Troplong Mondot, has 30 hectares of fine terroir – the vineyards in a prime position on the hill of Mondot – the high point of the St-Emilion appellation, overlooking …
A tasting of Troplong Mondot Read More
A Champagne from the Billecart-Salmon house – a blend of 37% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, using 70% Reserve wine. A very fine mousse of tiny bubbles …
Charles Le Bel ‘Inspiration 1818’ Brut NV Read More
A tasting last week sees the opportunity to look at some of the latest releases from Penfolds. Tommys Champagne Bar is in the old Seafarers Building – a comfortable space …
The latest releases from Penfolds Read More
Labelled ‘Grand Cru Classé de Graves’, this white wine – 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon – from Pessac-Léognan is considered one of the world’s greatest white wines. A light …
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc 2006 Read More
Qupe’s Bob Lindquist planted some of the first Rhone varietals in California at the Bien Nacido Hillside Estate vineyard in the 1990s and became known as one of founding ‘Rhone …
Qupe Bien Nacido Roussanne 2009 Read More
A Heathcote wine that is the joint venture of famed Rhone Valley winemakers Michel and Corinne Chapoutier and Ron and Elva Laughton of Jasper Hill. An opaque purple-black in the …
La Pleiade Shiraz 2019 Read More
A return to a wine I’ve had throughout my career writing about wines – from my time in Europe, and the occasional glass here in New Zealand. The oldest I’ve …
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1994 Read More
Named after a plague of mice that troubled the vineyards, this McLaren Vale wine is 100% Nero d’Avola – a wine we don’t see much of in New Zealand. A …
D’Arenberg ‘The Danger Mouse’ Nero d’Avola 2021 Read More