Matahiwi Holly Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 $28.99 The ‘Holly’ is a wine that I eagerly anticipate every year. ‘Anticipate’ is a polite way of saying I basically stood outside the cellar door and yelled until they threw it at me and told me to leave them alone. It’s a wine that just gets better and […]
The Last Shepherd Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2017 $22.99 I’m buzzing to see a syrah added to The Last Shepherd stable. Crafted from fruit grown in the iron-rich soils of the Bridge Pa region, this is an easy-breezy example that’s got all the signature boysenberry, plum, pepper and spicy oak influence. It’s not a honkingly dry […]
Alpha Domus Special Reserve ‘The Aviator’ Hawke’s Bay 2016 $69 This is the flagship Bordeaux blend for the Alpha Domus team led by winemaker Barry Riwai, and this vintage is a blend dominated by cabernet sauvignon that’s boosted by cabernet frand, merlot and malbec from the famous, iron-rich, red gravels of the Bridge Pa Triangle […]
Smith & Sheth Cru Heretaunga Albariño 2018 $28 This is New Zealand’s version of the best of what Spain can offer, incredibly focused, pure and dry and heaving with lemon and oyster shells. Sourced from the Bridge Pa region, in their iron-rich, red gravels, the acidity is like all the cutty-grass (or pampas grass if […]
Ash Ridge Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2016 $50 Unfined, unfiltered and absolutely elegance wine-onified. Perfumed with peppercorn, bay leaf, bright violets and plum blossom, the palate of this new release by winemaker Lauren Swift shows deeply savoury characters, leather-slapped, game meat and mocha notes. Fresh acidity and fanging length of flavour. It’s a syrah that’ll […]
Hancock & Sons LilliesHawke’s Bay Rosé 2018 $22.50 With its pale as palest rose gold colour, this rosé, named after the ship that bought John Hancock’s great-great-grandparents from Cornwall to South Australia, is quite possibly the prettiest thing I’ve poured all week! From starting out his career in N at Delegat’s in the 1970’s, to […]
Te Aro Wine Co Toil and Trouble Hawke’s Bay Pét Nat 2018 $27.50 Created by Jules Van Costello (owner of Cult Wines and Te Aro Wines) from sauvignon blanc sourced from the Bridge Pa sub-region (with a teensy splash of Marlborough sauvignon blanc to kickstart the ferment, this is a hyper fizzy, crown-sealed firecracker to […]
Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2015 $36 Direct from the jazz hands of master Bridge Pa syrah winemaker, Grant Edmonds, this is a plump, plush, softly-peppered style that is drinking darn nicely now. Earthy, and with elaborately elastic tannins, this is supple and sumptuous. Buy now, drink now or forever kick yourself.
Ash Ridge Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 $21 Lemon, lime notes on the nose and palate, they’re edged with seashell minerality and expect some marzipan and toasty notes from the 85% barrel fermentation as well. It could do with more generosity and freshness in the mid palate however. www.ashridgewines.co.nz
From what’s fast becoming known as a very elegant vintage in Hawke’s Bay, comes a cabernet-dominant blend that reflects the iron-rich red gravels of the Bridge Pa Triangle. Shepherded into the bottle by winemaker Lauren Swift, this brisk, racy red wine benefits from a big, swirlable glass to allow the plum and pepper aromas to […]