{"id":10415,"date":"2024-03-10T07:25:01","date_gmt":"2024-03-09T18:25:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415"},"modified":"2024-03-10T07:25:01","modified_gmt":"2024-03-09T18:25:01","slug":"laithwaites-box-for-autumn-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415","title":{"rendered":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10415\" class=\"elementor elementor-10415\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c5f5261 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c5f5261\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8ddc810\" data-id=\"8ddc810\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a582aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a582aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We\u2019re towards the end of what has actually been a Summer in Auckland this year &#8211; unlike last year\u2019s non-event &#8211; and this week I received the latest \u2018mystery box\u2019 from Laithwaites that was packed with just the sort of wines I\u2019d want to have on hand for entertaining at this time of year. Every time I open one of these boxes, I smile, and often think to myself \u201cwell I wouldn\u2019t have thought to buy that myself\u2026but I\u2019m looking forward to trying it!\u201d I mean &#8211; Alicante Bouschet from Portugal? Or Argentinian Chardonnay? There\u2019s a world of wine beyond just the tiny amounts that we produce in NZ &#8211; and it is definitely good to keep exploring it.<\/p><p>Lots of the world\u2019s wine-making regions produce Sauvignon Blanc, and the grape has many other expressions beyond what we know as Marlborough Sav. <b>Zonte&#8217;s Footstep Excalibur Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2021 <\/b>is perfumed with pithy grapefruit, mandarin, dried pineapple, and lemon blossom. Built on acidity giving a clean freshness, with linearity and length to the palate. There is a chalky minerality as well, which suggests that it will pair very well with seafood &#8211; oysters in particular. <b>91pts<\/b><\/p><p>A white wine from Argentina is a nice surprise &#8211; <b>Alambrado Gran Seleccion Chardonnay 2021<\/b> comes from Mendoza &#8211; which if you\u2019ve heard of one Argentinian wine region\u2026 this is probably the one! It has the familiar look, smell and taste of Chardonnay, and is made in a \u2018New World\u2019 style. By that I mean it has bright acidity, bolstering fruit flavours in the citrus spectrum, and a smooth textural, buttered-toast finish. It is fruit-forward, with some tropical notes of pineapple and melon alongside the juicy grapefruit, mandarin and lemon peel. Good for these late summer evenings &#8211; pair with chicken and pork dishes. <b>91pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea26529 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea26529\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-53a74c5\" data-id=\"53a74c5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-703e396 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"703e396\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10419\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mar-24-box-2.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59977d3 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"59977d3\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bc80337\" data-id=\"bc80337\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e547818 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e547818\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Moonlake Reserve Clare Valley Riesling 2022 <\/b>is from a region producing world-class Riesling. The higher altitude and shift from sunny daytime temperatures to cooler nights results in wines with superb acidity structure. A pale straw-green colour in the glass. Bone dry, with crisp aromas of lemon, lime, green apple, grapefruit and apricot. Tight and concentrated in the palate, with that signature acid line featuring prominently, and giving great length. Quite serious, this is also one that could be cellared for a long time, developing some richness and complexity. <b>92pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e9e7fa9\" data-id=\"e9e7fa9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6352eaa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6352eaa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>100% Grenache is an inspired choice of grapes to make a ros\u00e9, as with this <b>McPherson La Vue Grenache Ros\u00e9 2022.<\/b> A beautifully pale coral pink hue, and the aromas of classic Grenache &#8211; raspberry and spice &#8211; rise from the glass. The palate is light and crisp, with the perfume flowing into the palate. Plush with strawberry, orange peel, redcurrant and rose petals, but there is some character on show, with a little phenolic rasp from fruit tannins. Destined to brighten the lunch (or dinner) table, I also like a glass of ros\u00e9 as an aperitif. <b>89pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f33c83e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f33c83e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a1d826a\" data-id=\"a1d826a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5618486 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"5618486\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"474\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1-1024x661.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10426\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1-1024x661.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1-300x194.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1-768x496.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1-1536x992.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Aluado-Alicante-Bouschet-2022-1.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-978e132\" data-id=\"978e132\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b06424 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1b06424\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"478\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso-1024x666.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10425\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso-1024x666.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso-768x499.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso-1536x998.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Papavero-Vino-Rosso.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b953f0f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b953f0f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-74ce1bf\" data-id=\"74ce1bf\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-304dddf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"304dddf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Aluado Alicante Bouschet 2022 <\/b>is a rare varietal from Quinta de Porto Franco &#8211; north of Lisbon in Portugal. Jet black in the glass, just a shimmer of burgundy at the edges. An elegant nose of damson plum, black cherry, blackcurrant and bramble, it does head towards a sweetness, with some cola, mocha and date notes in the perfume. Bold, big and glossy immediately on the palate, this is not shy. A few Portuguese reds I\u2019ve tried do seem sweet to our NZ tastebuds &#8211; there\u2019s a ripeness here that you see in Barossa Shiraz, but seldom from our homegrown reds. Think of a spiced coulis of succulent dark berries\u2026 but actually the alcohol is at 12.5% and it doesn\u2019t stray into cloying &#8211; rather it is velvetty and smooth. The structure sits nicely through the spine &#8211; there is supple tannin, fresh acidity and a touch of toasty oak too. I think it would be a delicious summer BBQ wine with a thick steak, and I applaud the winemaker for creating this in its own character and style. This will certainly have its fans. <b>92pts<\/b><\/p><p><b>Il Papavero Rosso<\/b> is one of those non-vintage red blends that are often a delight from Italy. In this one, 5th-generation winemaker Scipione Giuliani takes varietals from amongst the country\u2019s best regions and produces a blend that combines them effortlessly. Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Negroamaro and Nero d\u2019Avola all feature. Structured with tannin, oak and juicy acidity, the fruit takes centre stage. There\u2019s a lightness of touch, but also enough richness and density to give some length. Would pair well with pasta and pizza. <b>87pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dbaa4b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dbaa4b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d7e5530\" data-id=\"d7e5530\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-07df72c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"07df72c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22-1024x655.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10423\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22-1024x655.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22-768x491.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22-1536x982.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/The-waxed-Bat-22.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a6d7a9c\" data-id=\"a6d7a9c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b417855 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b417855\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"470\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22-1024x655.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10422\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22-1024x655.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Trimboli-Salvatore-22.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2d176e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2d176e6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d842695\" data-id=\"d842695\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73c0a47 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73c0a47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Another wine from Argentina &#8211;<b> The Waxed Bat Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec 2022 <\/b>&#8211; has a very Australian presentation, with a tall bottle and<b> <\/b>quirky label, but where you might expect to see \u2018Coonawarra\u2019 or \u2018Langhorne Creek\u2019 as an origin &#8211; there is Mendoza! It\u2019s another <b>Opi<\/b> wine &#8211; from winemaker Rodolfo Sadler, whose Malbec is also available from Laithwaites (the \u201921 got 90\/100 pts). The Shiraz contributes pepper and plum, with the blackcurrant and liquorice notes from the bedfellows. Smoky, toasty oak and a velvet-smooth texture makes this very easy to like. Ripe, spicy and bold. <b>89pts<\/b><\/p><p>The next wine is certainly Australian &#8211;<b> Trimboli \u2018Salvatore\u2019 Malbec, Shiraz, Durif 2022. <\/b>It says so on the label, but it has a perfume and flavourful palate that confirms it. Here, the Malbec takes the lead with a dusty terracotta perfume underpinned with succulent bursting dark blue fruits.Black pepper and crushed green herbs &#8211; even some balsamic gumminess. Tannin forms the spine, robust and grippy. Quite savoury and intense, it\u2019s not just another big jammy red. Give it some air and it blooms into a quite complex finish with minerality and medicinal notes. Possibly one for the cellar? <b>91pts<\/b><\/p><p>Laithwaites have plenty of South Australian Shiraz on the site &#8211; and for good reason &#8211; it\u2019s a popular type of red wine that generally pleases a crowd. <b>Deep River McLaren Vale Shiraz 2019 <\/b>shows that distinctive dark chocolate flavour that McLaren Vale Shiraz has &#8211; it is there on the nose, with blackberry, plum and liquorice. The vanilla-flecked toasty oak adds richness and depth, and the black pepper spiciness of the region is present and correct too. I get a flash of mint in the finish, which is another stylistic pointer. Sometimes you just want something bold, rounded and quaffable &#8211; this four-year old vintage is it. <b>90pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d07282b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d07282b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e658cc4\" data-id=\"e658cc4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b3366e9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b3366e9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"735\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1-1024x768.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-10420\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Reds-Mar-24-1.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 735px) 100vw, 735px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3620191 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3620191\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6fc71c7\" data-id=\"6fc71c7\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-485ad88 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"485ad88\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Pigassou 2021 <\/b>comes from the foothills of the Massif Central in France not too far from Carcassonne. The village growers take their local grape varietals &#8211; Marselan and Caladoc &#8211; to collective that makes the wine. It is quite robust and dark, with plum, boysenberry and cassis flavours. As you\u2019d expect, it is also quite ripe &#8211; it reminds me of a rustic C\u00f4tes du Rh\u00f4ne red. There is plenty of supple tannin, hints of green herbs and quite a lot of red spiciness on the dry finish. <b>88pts<\/b><\/p><p><b>Le Prince de Courthezon 2022<\/b> is a Cotes du Rhone Appellation Control\u00e9e wine, so we are getting 80% Grenache and 10% each of Mourvedre and Syrah. A meaty 14.5% alcohol and a dense ruby colour in the glass &#8211; equal parts brooding and ripe on the nose. Plum flavours take the lead, alongside raspberry, cherry and cranberry. A tight, well-structured spine of oak, tannin and breezy acidity gets those ripe fruit flavours moving. The palate has a plush, spicy and peppery edge to it. A youthful, glossy but delicious finish. <b>91pts<\/b><\/p><p>When I lived in the UK, Coonawarra was one of the places that I could get wine from that sounded exotic and far away. Now that my home is a bit closer, I get to try the wines more often, and have become even more of a fan. <b>Leconfield Coonawarra Merlot 2021 <\/b>shows the classic, robust flavours of plum, mulberry, bramble and dried herbs that I\u2019d expect. Quite full-bodied &#8211; you notice the oak certainly, but the tannins are silken and well-integrated. There is menthol, pepper and spice too in the mix. The finish is long, gentle and lush. <b>92pts<\/b><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re towards the end of what has actually been a Summer in Auckland this year &#8211; unlike last year\u2019s non-event &#8211; and this week I received the latest \u2018mystery box\u2019 &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10418,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-writing-about-wine"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"We\u2019re towards the end of what has actually been a Summer in Auckland this year &#8211; unlike last year\u2019s non-event &#8211; and this week I received the latest \u2018mystery box\u2019 &hellip;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"WineFolio\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1017\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"David Walker Bell\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\"},\"headline\":\"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415\"},\"wordCount\":1354,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415\",\"name\":\"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/03\\\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg\",\"width\":1600,\"height\":1017,\"caption\":\"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?p=10415#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"description\":\"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"WineFolio\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/11\\\/WF_final_black.png\",\"width\":999,\"height\":389,\"caption\":\"WineFolio\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/wine.folio.1\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/winefolio\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/winefolio.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f\",\"name\":\"David Walker Bell\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"David Walker Bell\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio","og_description":"We\u2019re towards the end of what has actually been a Summer in Auckland this year &#8211; unlike last year\u2019s non-event &#8211; and this week I received the latest \u2018mystery box\u2019 &hellip;","og_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415","og_site_name":"WineFolio","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","article_published_time":"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1600,"height":1017,"url":"http:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"David Walker Bell","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"David Walker Bell","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415"},"author":{"name":"David Walker Bell","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f"},"headline":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024","datePublished":"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415"},"wordCount":1354,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415","name":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024 - WineFolio","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","datePublished":"2024-03-09T18:25:01+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","width":1600,"height":1017,"caption":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?p=10415#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Laithwaites box for Autumn 2024"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#website","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","name":"WineFolio","description":"A collection of writing about New Zealand Wine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#organization","name":"WineFolio","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/WF_final_black.png","width":999,"height":389,"caption":"WineFolio"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/wine.folio.1","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/winefolio\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/#\/schema\/person\/8b8706e15ba32f9782222c431fa75d9f","name":"David Walker Bell","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8597b80119ac3781cc55cc862f5a0514b7945f701d24da2c585751e8ee210ba7?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"David Walker Bell"}}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/Mr-24-full-box-1.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10415"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10435,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10415\/revisions\/10435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10418"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/winefolio.co.nz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}