A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine
Although this is about the eighth box of wines that I’ve received from Laithwaites – the thrill of opening it up and pulling out the bottles to see what’s inside …
A box of discovery from laithwaites.co.nz Read More
A pale golden, lime green colour in the glass. An elegant, under-stated perfume with good complexity. Some flinty, struck-match smokiness overlays lemon, white fig, melon, grapefruit, almond, nougat and tarragon …
Whitehaven Chardonnay 2022 Read More
A wine from the Yarra Valley label, but sourced from Tasmanian fruit – Tassie being very much on-trend at the moment – from Coal River Valley vineyard, next door to …
Giant Steps Fatal Shore Pinot Noir 2021 Read More
Made by traditional methods, and using a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir and 4% Pinot Meunier – as they would in Champagne. The Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot …
Hunter’s Miri Miru Méthode Traditionelle NV Read More
A deep ruby colour in the glass, with a signature Central Otago perfume of damson, rosehip, cherry, musky asian spice, pepper and thyme. The palate is compelling, laced with that …
Rockburn Eleven Barrels Parkburn Pinot Noir 2022 Read More
Opened to taste in anticipation of ‘International Pinot Day’ in August 2023. The latest of two Pinots released under Rockburn’s ‘barrel’ series where winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis searches for the very …
Rockburn Twelve Barrels Gibbston Pinot Noir 2022 Read More
I arrive after a drive through the back roads of Heathcote to meet Simon Osicka at his family-owned property. Paul Osicka Wines was started by vigneron Paul Osicka in 1955 …
Winemaker series: Simon Osicka Read More
A Cabernet Franc from the Noetzli Family Vineyard in Maraekakaho, Hawke’s Bay. A light burgundy red in the glass. More of a Loire-inspired expression than Bordeaux, this has a crunch …
Three Fates Cabernet Franc 2022 Read More
From what the label describes as “a very good to exceptional Hawke’s Bay vintage, especially for Chardonnay”. A mixture of clones and vineyard sources this year – clones 95, Mendoza, …
Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Chardonnay 2021 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