Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009

Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2009 DOC $17  If you’re looking for a sharply-priced, crowd-pleasing red that ticks all the boxes then it’s right here.  Plum, chocolate, spice – it’s not a blockbuster but there’s plenty of flavour going on here.  Available from www.labarrique.co.nz Codici Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

Contea de Castiglione Barbaresco 2007

Contea di Castiglione Barbaresco 2007 $39  I’m loving this super-tasty, earthy, spicy Italian red because it’s a fantastic example of Nebbiolo that’s produced a lush, plummy and ribstickingly good wine.  Available from Decant Wines 03 3431945 Contea di Castiglione Barbaresco

Poderi Crisci Waiheke Island Viburno 2008

Poderi Crisci Waiheke Island Viburno 2008 $39  No, viburno is not some snazzy new variety that’s taken root on the island; rather it’s the name of a plant which is the symbol of the Mediterranean.  Viburno is an auspicious plant which apparently symbolises triumph and great promise; and it’s an apt name for this blend [...]

William Murdoch ‘The Guardsman’ 2009

William Murdoch ‘The Guardsman’ 2009 $65  Built around a solid spine of cabernet sauvignon, and with absolutely no insecticide, herbicide, pesticide, or systemic or non-organic chemicals of any kind being used; this wine is about as organic and natural as they come.  Crafted by Hayden Penny from fruit sourced from Hawke’s Bay’s Gimblett Gravels, this [...]

Borsao Garnacha 2009

Borsao Garnacha 2009 $21  A saucy Spanish red from Aragon’s Campo de Borja subregion, it is a blend of 85 percent Garnacha (Grenache) and 25 percent Tempranillo with layers of dried herbs, plum, tea leaf, coffee bean and red rose notes.  Superb with anything chargrilled, this wine has warming, spicy smoke and cocoa characters on [...]

Weaver Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009

Weaver Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 $36  I am loving this debut pinot from this shiny-new, Alexandra-based family estate.  It is intensely perfumed with cherry, boysenberry, violet, black tea and sandalwood.  Silky and slippery in the mouth, it has delicious, spicy warmth, superb depth and delicious length of flavour.  While there’s a good few [...]

Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009

Stoneleigh Latitude Pinot Noir 2009 $34  Spending eight months in French oak barrels (a third of them new) has produced a wine chock-full of youthful fruit sweetness combined with spicy layers of plum, cherry and toast. It’s bright, vibrant and very drinkable, although I’m not sure how this wine will do in the cellar so [...]

Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010

Kidnapper Cliffs Hawke’s Bay Pinotage 2010 $45  One of the most sophisticated examples of pinotage on the NZ market, this wine oozes cranberry, redcurrant, rosehip tea and cherry cola aromas yet it has a spicy edge with savoury, dried herb flavours and is soundly built with solid tannins a warming mid-palate and lengthy persistence of [...]

Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz Cabernet 2009

Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz Cabernet 2009 $45  Created from fruit sourced from two regions in South Australia’s Limestone Coast, Robe and Mount Benson. It’s a wine that’s walking away with trophy’s left, right and centre – and it’s easy to see why because it’s just so incredibly well-built.  Lifted pepper and smoke wrap around [...]

Te Mata Coleraine 2009

The Te Mata Coleraine 2009 $80  is absolutely destined for greatness.  A blend of 52% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot and 5% cabernet franc, the colour is impenetrably inky, glossy magenta-black. Perfumed with dark berries, exotic spices cocoa and rose, it oozes plush, plump fruit, soft, smoky notes, youthful acidity and has silky, ribbon-like tannins on the finish.  [...]