Light, dry, elegantly styled Chardonnay from 3rd-generation Italian imports De Bortoli, with a fine nose of citrus and florals and a gently textural palate of savoury and chalky characters nuanced by
Tropically aromatic, medium-weighted, dry on the finish and beautifully balanced. A weighty, textural wine with an abundance of varietal character.
A soft, rounded Sauvignon Blanc with lush fruit. The nose is softly full and voluminous with fresh, fragrant aromas of ripe passionfruit and tropical fruit with lifted exotic florals, fresh herbs and subtle cooler-spectrum nettle nuances.
Classic Gisborne, with fruit off the brilliant Tietjen vineyard fermented on indigenous yeasts. Lovely floral, mineral-tinged aromatics of stonefruit and melon, and a creamy, textural palate replete with rich fruit, notes of butterscotch and a crisp finish.
Like Jacinda Ardern this wine is youthful and attractive, friendly and approachable, has personality in spades without being OTT, and is very diplomatic.
Intense aromatics of citrus and honeysuckle, the generous mouthful of sweet fruit kept in check with balancing acidity.
The palate shows a rich concentration of pure Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc characters.
Loveblock’s organic Sauvignon is an avalanche of aromatics on an elegant palate of peach and tropical fruit with precise acidity. Comes in an environ-mentally friendly cardboard box.
The inaugural Chardonnay release from winemaker John Hancock and his eldest son Willy. Small batch production, with creamy fruit characters balanced by a crisp finish and and nutty oak nuances.
Kim Salonius from Eskdale Wines is best described as eccentric. Mighty amiable, though: he just does it differently which is why this rich, luscious Chardy from '04 is current vintage. Intrigues.
Harvested from Moutere clay gravels and Waimea plains vineyards, with the wine cool fermented in stainless steel to preserve varietal integrity. A flurry of racy acidity and citrus nuances.
Complex aromas of white peach and nectarine are delicately underpinned by notes of blackcurrant and dried herbs. Deliciously soft in texture, the flavours are enhanced by extended maturation "Sur lie"
Freshly rubbed herbs, tropical fruit salad of pineapple, mango, passionfruit dominate the palate. The acid backbone of the Te Muna Valley is layered upon, complementing the mid palate richness from t
Pushing all sorts of boundaries, the Loveblock Tee has no sulphur added, with green tea the only preserving agent, the tea impressing the Crawfords with the potential of its anti-oxidising capabilities. The flavours are softer, a bit more spicy, offering subtle hints of saffron, verbena and mandarin. The wine is single vineyard, BioGro-certified organic and vegan-friendly. This is a new category - not quite natural, but not conventional either - and all the more exciting for it.
A refreshing core of lime and mandarin is framed by just a touch of honey. This hint of sweetness is beautifully balanced against the crisp, fruity acidity.
Beautifully scented with a finely judged, elegant, apricot/peach/floral nose, it's well balanced, with a full palette of ripe fruit flavours and creamy texture, finishing on a clean, citrus note.
At the heart of the Greenhough range are the wines from the Hope Vineyard, made from organically certified vines.
A vibrant nose of lemon and floral notes. Round mineral palate with a balanced finish.
On the opposite bank of the Loire to Sancerre is Pouilly-Fumé, also Sauvignon Blanc country, but with its own soils and climate. Elegantly flinty, with generous white peach characters.
This elegant and invigorating Chardonnay displays creamy citrus flavours augmented with nuances of florals, hazelnut and oak. A balancing mineral note and nicely textural palate add finishing touches.
A tribute to the classic Zephyr MKIII, of course. Whole bunch pressed, ancient oak barrels, feral ferment, no stirring, no sulphur. Complex fennel and melon flavours are accompanied by keen acid.
Tasmania’s unique climatic attributes have created a whole new palette for its winemakers. Rich flavours of stonefruit and citrus interweave seamlessly across an opulent palate.
Brewed with predominantly Riwaka hops from Nelson, and supported by a couple of American hop stars; Amarillo and Citra, plus a handful of specialty malts from Gladfield Malt on Canterbury plains, NZ.
Fragrant, sumptuous array of peach, almond, cream and vanilla, replete with rich textures and flavours. Concentrated, expressive, fabulously long.
A nicely layered wine with elegant sweet nut and toasted oak notes shining through with mineral notes that echo on the long, impressive finish.
Bright, lively fruit pairs with piercing acidity in a precise and definitive Chablisean expression, replete with mineral-infused notes of citrus and chalk.
Mixed rich stone and citrus fruit with a silky creamy texture. There are layers of ripe fruit and well integrated vanilla French oak flavours. The finish is soft and silky.
A lush, concentrated Chardonnay showing plenty of power and personality, with lovely creamy textures accompanying the lingering citrus and stonefruit finish.
From Giesen’s single vineyard series, an elegant, bright and vibrant wine with great length and poise. Off organically-grown 20-year-old vines, fermented and aged in 1,000-litre German Fuder oak barre
This is a fuller style from Hawke's Bay and quite different from the rest of the Kumeu range of chardonnays. Bold, ripe peaches dominate the nose and palate.
This wine was made by Brent Marris in honour of his father the late John Marris, who helped develop the early Marlborough vineyards. Ripe peach and guava notes are framed by smoky flintiness. A sophisticated, detailed wine that will continue to evolve.
Fermented on indigenous yeasts, Cloudy's singular Te Koko is creamy, mineral-edged and complex, with floral aromas wafting among the stonefruit and toast. Rich, powerful, voluptuously textured.
Vibrant gold with exquisite fine floral and tropical fruit aromas. A silky, intense, and luscious palate, culminating in a smoky, elegant finish.
A tribute to the family matriarch, Hardys’ flagship white sets a benchmark, exhibiting elegant fruit intensity and an assured balance.
90/100 Vinous "Pale gold. Cool, precise aromas of pear, Meyer lemon and violet. At once deep and vibrant, with penetrating acidity infusing the citrus and orchard flavors with good energy."
