Impressive variety of styles among recent sauvignon blancs
Exciting for me in the latest collection to taste my very first wine from the 2021 vintage, from the Jules Taylor stable.
Food & Wine
A grape by any other name
A grape by any other name
In life you might question someone who goes by an alias, but in the world of grape varieties this is all very commonplace.
Piquette, blends, ambers next trends
Piquette, blends, ambers next trends
Once just a light, lunchtime quaffer for French farm workers, piquette is undergoing a resurgence.
A collection of Australians
A collection of Australians
Disruptions in the supply chain are creating ongoing headaches for local importer/distributors, but there'll always be something to whet your whistle, such as these Australian wines.
Taking one’s tastebuds on a tour of Central Otago
Taking one’s tastebuds on a tour of Central Otago
One of my regular tasting colleagues was in Central Otago recently and, as one does, managed to fit in a few pleasurable cellar door visits.
Unsung hero living in pinot noir’s shadow
Unsung hero living in pinot noir’s shadow
Today's line-up allowed me to compare a quartet of Central Otago chardonnays with a Hawke’s Bay pairing.
Wine industry ageing nicely
Wine industry ageing nicely
I recently spent time pondering the age of our Central Otago wine industry and its ever-growing maturity — in vine age, the number of vintages harvested and in the accrual of knowledge in fine...
Pi-not a dud among the bunch
Pi-not a dud among the bunch
Over the course of 48 hours prior to putting this column together, I managed to taste more than 20 pinot noirs ranging in price from $22 to $120 (with a number of those north of $75 a bottle).
Distillery shows spirited innovation
Distillery shows spirited innovation
Many wine enthusiasts enjoy a wide range of flavour experiences, and boutique spirits fit that bill.
Get ready for a celebration
Get ready for a celebration
For all its many devotees, every day can be a sauvignon blanc day given its accessibility, affordability and sheer all-around drinkability.
Shift from duty free to retail
Shift from duty free to retail
As our quarantine-free air corridors to Australia open, money will be spent on goods and services in both countries: a lifeline for a number of businesses.
Riesling rewards attention
Riesling rewards attention
Like a lot of people involved in the wine industry, I love riesling, and have also sometimes pondered whether it might be riesling’s moment to shine in the sun.
Pinot noir from further north
Pinot noir from further north
Today's clutch of wines hail from Marlborough and North Canterbury.
Arrivals from 2019 welcome
Arrivals from 2019 welcome
While release dates for individual wineries can vary (with a number of 2017s and 2018s still current), more and more of the 2019s are coming to market. It's a vintage that many NZ regions are delighted with.
Harvest time looms in Central
Harvest time looms in Central
It's that time of year again when harvest will be in the offing in Central Otago; it’s slightly later in the Waitaki, writes Mark Henderson.
Catching up with rieslings
Catching up with rieslings
I have been in catch-up mode recently, trying to publish reviews for wines that I’ve tasted a while back, but which I haven’t had enough space in my column for.
Spoiled for choice
Spoiled for choice
The range of chardonnay styles out there, means there is pretty much something for everyone.
Fruity, salty rose refreshing
Fruity, salty rose refreshing
As rose becomes more about its own identity and style, we are seeing less mention of the grape variety/ies that produce it.
Depth, potential and interest
Depth, potential and interest
I’ve had a soft spot for Hawke’s Bay syrah since stumbling upon the Stonecroft cellar door some 30 years ago.
Red blends show confidence
Red blends show confidence
The 2018 vintage Gimblett Gravels dozen is split into six blended reds and six syrahs.
