Auntsfield’s new single block wines showcase the mineral structure of the particularly old soils of this vineyard in Marlborough’s southern valleys. With vines now reaching the important milestone of thirteen years of age, the wines have ascended to new levels of mineral distinction, here displaying pronounced, slatey minerality. Such finesse, restraint, honed focus and textured […]

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At its finest, Marlborough is defined by a fragrant rose petal and seductive red cherry elegance that distinguish it from pinot noir hailing from anywhere else in New Zealand. Greywacke champions this style in its beautifully gauged, silky delicacy, supple elegance and nuances of cherry kernel and brambles. $42 at The Wine Emporium.

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There are unwritten rules of the wine world that only the most courageous and the most clever dare to break. The decision to release the more approachable 2010 before the more tightly coiled 2009 The Vicar is a laudable decision and further proof that this estate champions taste ahead of convention and convenience. But don’t […]

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Blanc de noirs step into their own as winter sets in, and the talented winegrower and mayor of the village of Ambonnay crafts one of the finest at this price. It’s a tremendously full-bodied and fleshy style that captures one of champagne’s most celebrated villages, cleverly utilising malic acidity to hone the finish and emphasise […]

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Everyone, it seems, has a squat old bottle of Para forgotten somewhere in the depths of a cupboard, but this wine bears little resemblance to those 21-year-old releases. Seppeltsfield is a treasure trove of special old fortified parcels, and this one has just been released after a magnificent thirty years in barrel, to the tune […]

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As prices creep upward across Wynns’ portfolio, space is made to introduce new wines at the bottom end. Its entry cabernet is a value-for-money style that makes an honest representation of both variety and region. Crunchy mulberries, blackcurrants, capsicum, leaf and mint are all part of the equation, as are raw, primary tannins. A nicely […]

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The Gables has landed in the most glorious magnum bottle I have ever seen. Its dark glass, deep punt and parallel forms are as breathtaking as A Space Odyssey monolith but the real game changer here is the screw cap. A new era of oversized bottles has dawned, with Wynns super premiums next in line. […]

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Black Label is an institution and the refinement of recent vintages are the dividends of drastic vineyard makeovers with chainsaws a decade ago. 2010 is the wine to drink while the tightly wound 2009 slowly uncoils in the cellar. This early and generous vintage has been carefully handled, presenting accurate and vibrant red- and blackcurrants, […]

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A new Black Label has been born. A marketing stunt to trade off the fifty-five vintage success of Black Label Cabernet? The truth is far more compelling. Investment in smaller fermenters has allowed more batches to be kept separate at Wynns, accounting for a growing portfolio of ever more detailed styles. And the gap between […]

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With each passing vintage, Wynns refines V&A Lane a little more intricately, and 2010 is my favourite release to date. This is a wine of consummate poise and balance, perfectly melding these two varieties in seamless coherence and impeccable polish. Oak, fruit and tannin unite in balanced measure, leaving sufficient airspace to let every detail […]

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