Category Archives: New Zealand

2010 Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir

Heftier, oakier and more tannic than the standard Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir (which I prefer). Totally balanced though. I just feel it doesn’t have the dynamics I find so attractive in the less expensive offering. Puffs out its chest and … Continue reading

Posted in New Zealand, Pinot Noir, Waipara Valley | Tagged | 12 Comments

2013 Church Road Chardonnay

Build me up buttercup Chardonnay from Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. It could really be from anyway though. Lots of winemaking input, generic fruit profile. And exactly the sort of expression that many consumers wished was back in vogue. Loads of … Continue reading

Posted in Chardonnay, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand | Tagged | 3 Comments

2013 Craggy Range Avery Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

Apparently the vineyard is one of the warmest in Marlborough. Surprisingly then, it’s more citrine at heart than tropical and almost as vegetal as fruit driven. Overall it results in a complex Sauvignon Blanc that draws you in. I’m tempted … Continue reading

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2013 Yealands Estate Land Made Series Sauvignon Blanc

Not a poor expression of the Marlborough style but unlikely to make any new converts. Very pungent grassy, herbaceous nose. A slightly odd mix of sour lemons, snapped peas and passionfruit/tropical flavours. Straight up and down otherwise. Crisp and clean. … Continue reading

Posted in Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged | 23 Comments

2013 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc

I’m not so sure anyone reads a review before buying a bottle of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc but anyway… No mistaking the region, the variety or the synergy. Passionfruit leaning into pineapple, capsicum, blackberry leaf, thyme and lemongrass with citrus … Continue reading

Posted in Marlborough, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged | 4 Comments

2013 Dog Point Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Whenever I taste a quality Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc I wonder why I don’t drink them more often. Of course there’s a lot of swill out there but that applies to any variety and any region. Crisp acidity rather than sharp. … Continue reading

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2013 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc

I’m not overly keen on brisk, acidic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc but when there is some roundness and give in the mouth and the vegetal characters are toned down there are occasions when I really enjoy it. This is more my … Continue reading

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2013 The Supernatural Sauvignon Blanc

Confusing quotes from winemaker Gabrielle Simmers accompanied this wine: “The motivation for me to produce naturally comes from my farming background, my experience learning from Heymann-Lowenstein in the Mosel, and personally I am very sensitive to any toxins. So I can … Continue reading

Posted in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand, Sauvignon Blanc | Tagged | 2 Comments

2011 Pegasus Bay Sauvignon Semillon

This isn’t looking too sharp at the around the two and half year mark. A rare miss from Pegasus Bay or perhaps a bad bottle. I can only review what’s in front of me. Vegetal. Peas, grass, asparagus, cabbage and … Continue reading

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2010 Pegasus Bay Riesling

In the antipodes it seems that Tasmania and New Zealand in general have an edge when it comes to Rieslings incorporating significant amounts of residual sugar. Other places may throw their hat in the ring over time but at the … Continue reading

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