Waiheke Island – part 1
Welcome to a world of wine, set apart from the mainland on a small island in the Hauraki Gulf, off shore from New Zealand’s biggest city – Auckland. Home to …
Read MoreMonth: January 2022
WineFolio ‘Top 10 Tasting’ – Riesling
After 100 plus days in lockdown – in Auckland – it was great to be back into wine tasting and judging mode these last few weeks. After an overnight trip …
Read More
Margrain Grüner Veltliner 2021
From Martinborough – a delicate pale straw colour in the glass, greening at the edges. Off-dry and light to medium bodied. Citrus notes of grapefruit and satsuma sit nicely alongside …
Read More
Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2017
From Wanaka, and some of New Zealand’s oldest Pinot vines. A dense, opaque, purple in the glass – boldly perfumed with blueberry, cherry, raspberry and violets florals. Medium bodied, dry …
Read More
Au Bon Climat “XXX Anniversary Nuits Blanches au Bouge” Chardonnay 2010
From the Santa Maria Valley in California. A vibrant depth of golden-green colour in the glass, with a heady nose of smoky vanilla, roast cashew, nectarine, butterscotch, pear, quince and …
Read More
Man O’ War ‘Gravestone’ 2019
A ‘Bordeaux Blanc’ style white wine – a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon from Waiheke Island. Pale lemon/straw colour in the glass, with intriguing aromas of green apple, cut …
Read More
Astrolabe Comelybank vineyard Rosé 2021
From fruit grown by Jeff and Vanessa Hammond in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough – from the low-yielding, but superb quality, 2021 vintage. A pale peachy pink in the glass, with …
Read More
Winemaker series: Murray Cook
I planned to be in Marlborough on “International Sauvignon Blanc day” – as you do. The New Zealand wine industry owes a huge debt to this one style of wine. …
Read More
Trinity Hill ‘Molly’s Block’ Rosé 2021
From syrah grapes, in the Motea Pa appellation of Hawke’s Bay. A refined, pale salmon pink colour in the glass, with aromatics and floral notes coming brightly to the fore …
Read More
Church Road ‘Gwen’ Chardonnay 2020
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, …
Read More