Coxhead Creek Matakana Verdelho 2020 $25 I love the lifted apple and peach aromatics on this little lovely from Michael Lorimer’s Matakana vineyard, and I love even more the fact that it’s Verdelho! Yay! Verdelho is a VERY rare grape on our shores, which is a shame because it absolutely roars when planted in the […]
Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2020 $25 How gorgeously pretty is this wine! You’re looking at it right? So perfectly pale, this rosé is made from cabernet franc grown by Michael Lorimer. Cabernet Franc classically adds fullness, volume, and delicately sweet red fruit notes to any wine, so when it’s crafted into a rosé, it’s a […]
Coxhead Creek Inlet Red Matakana Cabernet Franc 2013 $18 That waft of vanilla smoke on the nose indicates that winemaker Warren Knudsen has made excellent use of a combination of French and American oak. That oak wraps around the bay leaf, blackcurrant, and leather layers in this strapping wine from our northern climes. Solid tannins […]
Coxhead Creek Matakana Chardonnay 2019 $29 With aromas and flavours of toasted marshmallow, almond meal, roast stonefruit and toasted coconut, this bottle of Northland niceness has definitely wowed me! Mouthfilling and juicy, yet elegant and statuesque, it’s a beautifully balanced chardonnay that’ll have you wondering why the bottle went so fast. 2019 is proving to […]
Heron’s Flight Matakana Dolectto Rosato 2019 $28 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve rung David Hoskins at Heron’s Flight to ask if his new Dolcetto rosato is available. Yes he withdrew the non-contact order and we’re communicating through a mediator, but we’re cool, because he gave me what I wanted. Finally. Unique to […]
Coxhead Creek Matakana Rosé 2019 $25 I love this wine! Crafted by the crazy-talented Warren Knudsen, from 100% cabernet franc, this rosé is the real deal. It’s incredibly concentrated, spicy, floral and deliciously dry to drink. Crisp, focused and showing superb purity of flavour, it’s a style that I’d love to see more of from […]
Mahurangi River Winery Field of Grace Reserve Matakana Chardonnay 2014 $54 Incredibly glossy and golden when poured, this chardonnay from a tiny corner of Matakana is absolutely roaring into life after sitting quietly for a couple of years just building its confidence and character. Complex smoke and toast notes merge with roast stonefruit, lemon pith […]
You might imagine the little squiggle on the label is a graphic depiction of the ups and downs of working with nature. I prefer to think of it as a vine tendril left over on the wires post-pruning – much more obvious. Winegrower Jim Hight reckons Matakana is a great spot to grow viognier of […]
Tiny amounts of handpicked sangiovese were fermented wild on their skins inside 500 litre clay amphorae for six months then rested another 6 months in traditional terracotta vessels before being transferred to this gorgeous wax-sealed bottle. Naturally handled with no additional sulphites, it’s exceptionally delicious. Bright, vibrant, dark fruit, floral intensity and buckets of pepper, […]
Holy squid squirt Batman! This is quite possibly the inkiest, darkest wine I’ve sipped in forever. Glossy magenta-black in the glass and showing mountains of mellow, meaty magic, soft spices, a hint of soy, olive and gently dusty tannins to tie it all up on the way down. Pricey, but oh so nicey from a […]