Of course, there’s nothing at all wrong in bathing in pinot noir, but it is rewarding to also find succour in other varieties, as we find ourselves doing today.
Pinot noir is such a dominant force in the cooler wine regions of the South Island so it is well represented on our shop shelves, and naturally we want to support local so Central Otago is often to the fore.
Fun to broaden your horizons too, and this grouping of Bordeaux blends, syrahs and a bright, juicy cabernet franc will add plenty of variety to your flavour palette.
2024 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot
Price RRP $24.99
Rating Excellent
Engaging nose of
cassis, spice, plum,
dusty gravels, earth
and graphite. Bright,
fresh in the mouth, a
seasoning of black
pepper, continuing
the journey of the
nose on the palate.
Good fruit weight, a
sense of coolness
running through it,
almost a crunchy
feel to the close as
the tannins kick in,
structure here and
great balance. Post
reveal, excellent vfm!
2020 Pegasus Bay Maestro Merlot Malbec
Price RRP $67
Rating Outstanding
Delightful perfume
soars from the glass,
backed by earth,
tobacco, humus, a
core of sweet, ripe
fruit. Sumptuous,
luscious, fine tannins
in perfect balance with
the fruit depth. Ripe yet
not ‘‘sweet’’, lovely
energy and freshness
with wonderful carry.
Picks up a hint of
chocolate, tannins
now more evident,
circling the palate.
Flavours hang on the
finish. Really smart.
2021 Saint Clair Plateau Block 17
Gimblett Gravels Cabernet Merlot
Price RRP $42
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Plum, blueberry,
darker, more brooding,
a wisp of crushed leaf.
Super depth of flavour,
fine tannins
underpinning it all,
notes of blackcurrant
and leaf fill the palate,
ripe, engaging and
attractively dry. The
nose develops
wonderful fragrance
driven by leaf nuances,
opening up beautifully,
growing in power, yet
remaining wonderfully
light on its feet. Super.
2023 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Syrah
Price RRP $28
Rating Excellent
Perfumed, sweetly
fruited, spice, a wisp of
toffee. Real juiciness to
the fruit, freshly
crushed summer
berries, more medium-
weighted, open for
business with real
drinkability, feeling
ready to enjoy now. Air
time brings a change
as this gathers weight
and depth, spice notes,
a cooling feel to it,
showing the more
serious side of its
charms.
2021 Pegasus Bay Cabernet Franc
Price RRP $38
Rating Excellent
Bolder, darker
fruited, brooding yet
fresh as it flirts with
some crushed leaf, a
touch of gunflint with
air. Blackcurrant and
dark plum notes, that
darker side matched
by wonderful
freshness as the
acidity gets into gear.
Bright, juicy, crunchy
vibrancy that just
screams ‘‘drink me’’.
Lovely, crisply fresh
close with great
carry. Another glass
please?
2022 Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Price RRP $24.99
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Red fruits, fruit
pastille that leans
towards Turkish
delight, spices.
Youthful, fresh, a
tangy zestiness
reminding me of
cranberry, picking
up lead pencil
influences on nose
and palate with time,
also an iron filings-
like minerality, bright
acidity adding to the
freshness. Very
easy drinkability, all
about the refreshing
tanginess.
