A triumph of a sensational vintage, a wine of impressive depth of fruit concentration of black cherries, cherry kernel, anise, vanilla, even plum pudding, yet at every instant graceful and restrained, holding impeccable freshness and primary purity even at more than a decade of age. A wine of incredible detail and lingering poise. I have […]

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The back label says concentrated, robust and full bodied. Don’t believe a word of it. This is a restrained and spice-accented vintage for McPherson, a wine that encapsulates the cool, pepper-laden 2011 season remarkably well for its price. Its bright rhubarb and mixed berry compote flavours are supported by finely textured, softly structured tannins. Great […]

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La Bise is what Fox Gordon winemaker Tash Mooney describes as her “just for fun, selfish winemaking” project. Hand-made in miniscule volumes, this Macclesfield sangiovese is intended to be clearly varietal, yet friendly and easy to drink – a balance that she admits is hard to achieve. She’s nailed it here, capturing the vibrancy, refreshing […]

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Considerable layers of black fruit depth of plums, black jubes and pepper have been scaffolded into this medium-bodied style. It lingers long amidst finely textured and well crafted tannins. A value wine that promises considerable potential in the cellar. $15 direct.

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Brilliantly crafted rosé that perfectly captures the freshness of rose petals, pomegranates and guavas, gliding seamlessly through a soft, enticing palate. Texture is built through sensitive use of wild fermentation in old oak barrels and stirring of the lees (dead yeast cells) after fermentation. The result is an alluring mouth feel and lingering aftertaste. $17 […]

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If you like your gris with attitude, Main Divide is your answer. This is a voluptuous and exotic gris from very late picked, ripe fruit, which has been barrel fermented and lees aged to increase mouth feel and complexity. It’s rich with frangipane fragrance, and luscious with apricot and grapefruit, tempered with textural, phenolic (grape […]

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Rob Dolan’s ambition is to create a gris of textural structure, which he achieves through skin contact, partial fermentation in oak and lots of agitation of the lees (dead yeast cells) after fermentation. The result has a lot more appeal (and a lot more colour) that you’d expect from gris, particularly from vines grafted just […]

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An exceptionally warm and early vintage in Hawkes Bay did nothing to diminish the endurance and character of the estate syrah from one of the region’s most celebrated estates. A touch of viognier is as good as invisible within dense black fruits and an undercurrent of cracked black pepper. An impressively poised palate is set […]

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Redbrook is on the rise. An impressively lively, vibrant and crunchy bouquet of red- and blackcurrant fruits, tobacco and well integrated dark chocolate announces a palate of considerable structure. Wonderfully balanced, finely ground tannins of graphite-like finesse meld confidently with tangy, energetic acidity. It all unites to create an effortlessly medium-bodied wine of seamless line […]

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A brilliantly pristine Barwang, singing with alpine purity and charged with high altitude energy. The bouquet is elegant and fragrant, with lemon blossom and grapefruit zest, announcing a honed and energetic palate. A razor-sharp line of high-tensile acidity draws the finish out long and defined, screaming for time to build depth and flesh. $30 at […]

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