2018 Kumeu River - Estate Chardonnay (90 pts)

ℹ️ This wine is 💯 Chardonnay from six different estate vineyards in the Kumeu Region. The vines are 7-20 years old and are planted in clay loam soils over a sandstone base. The grapes are hand-harvested, whole cluster pressed, and fermented with indigenous yeasts. The wines are barrel fermented and go through 💯 malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 11 months in French oak barrels.

👃 Medium intensity on the nose. Aromas of grapefruit pith, key lime, lemon zest, pear, yellow apple, oak, toasted nuts, whole cream, and flint.

👄 The wine is dry, medium+ acidity, medium alcohol (13%), and medium- body. A medium length finish of citrus zest, toasted nuts, and flint.

🔔 The Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay offers a fantastic Quality to Price Ratio (QPR) Chardonnay. The wine is very balanced with good acidity, a creamy texture, and a reasonably ethereal body. The palate shows a gentle kiss of new oak (assuming 15-20% new oak) and endearing flinty notes on the finish. Kumeu River does a beautiful job of showcasing New World fruit with Old World winemaking sensibility across their range.

 2018 Kumeu River - Estate Chardonnay (90 pts) @kumeu _river

2016 Greywacke - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (88 pts)

See detailed notes in thr full video review 👉 https://youtu.be/2vE1kAfd7WM or by clicking on the link in bio 👉

 2016 Greywacke - Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough (88 pts)

 Kids vs Adults Bloody #fidgettoys  or whatever they are

The driving force behind Alex Craighead’s winemaking is preservation of the biodiversity of the land on which he lives and makes wine.

Located in Upper Moutere, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, his 11 hectares of vineyards are certified biodynamic and organic.

Hand harvested, vines are in alluvial, clay and gravel soils. Spontaneous fermentation on the skins for 5-10 days in clay amphora, aged in clay amphora. Bottled by gravity, unfined, unfiltered, no added S02, corked by hand.

Tangy acidity and green tea tannins flank orange, nectarine, pink grapefruit, lemon, pear, citrus blossom and trace of yellow apple.

Orange zest, melon, trace of chamomile linger on the crisp finish.

50% Gewürztraminer, 40% Riesling, 10% Pinot Gris

 The driving force behind Alex Craighead’s winemaking is

I’ve seen this 100 times at the bottle shop as it comes in its own paper bag, so I finally bought it ....... Rating: Buy 🍷  Crafters Union Custom Red from Hawke’s Bay in NZ. As I said this wine all ready comes in a bottlo paper bag with 🌴 💀🏄🏻‍♂️ 🔪💰❤️🦠💣 and all other crazy

sum it up with “Bold yet lush” and “harmonious wine”. Well done 👍  Up there for bargain of the year. ...🍷...

 I’ve seen this 100 times at the bottle shop as it comes in

I originally did this review a few months ago but just had another

 Pinot...And just to put my original review in BOLD. It is good, very good. About $24 simple s great value...simple...

Rating: Strong Buy 🍷  2016 Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir from Central Otago. This was recommended by the great staff at

 bottle shop. A great Pinot that everyone should try. Loved it...simple... 🍷 .

 I originally did this review a few months ago but just had

What wines would buy for 14 days of quarantine?

No I don’t have Corona virus and 🙏 to anyone that does but I would love to know your thoughts on what wines you’d buy. Let’s be realistic, not many of us can all buy a few bottles of 1998 Chateau Margaux.

Love to know your must have wine purchases.

I’m thinking 14 days equals a nice round case (12) of wine is needed*

*Please adjusts according to marriage status, number of children and any other factor that causes the increase of wine consumption.

Results will be listed once I create a great survival case if wine.

 What wines would buy for 14 days of quarantine? No I don’t

Rating: Buy 🍷  Coal Pit Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand. Won best premium red

 on advice from @vintagecellars at Broadbeach and it was as so good. Beautiful nose and such a great taste.  Complex but so smooth with just the right amount of spice. 8️⃣ .

 Rating: Buy 🍷  Coal Pit Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New

A strong Marlborough Pinot. I enjoyed it and but I’d just choose other Pinots at the moment...simple...

 2015 Isabel Marlborough Pinot Noir Rating: B- Buy Again:

Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Loads of passionfruit. It is a little too tropical for me. There will be people who will love this wine and yes will be perfect ice cold at the beach...simple...

 Rapaura Springs Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2018 Rating: C

So my first wine to review under the new system. Hope you enjoy. Still have some trial and error but I think this is a good start with a solid C+. This is a great little Pinot Gris from Marlborough in New Zealand. If you like Sav Blanc from there then you will enjoy this too. It really does taste like peaches and cream. I thought this was good value at $14 when I bought it, but a quick check and its $10 at Liquorland (no affiliation). I'm going to buy more at that price...simple...

 Robinson Marlborough Pinot Gris 2018 Rating: C+  Great Mid

Young and Co have hit the bottle shop shelves with some eye catching and creative labels. I can clearly see why people would pick this off the crowded shelf at the local bottlo. I love their labels.

Can I understand why people would buy this wine: Absolutely

An Argentinian wine with a medium body and some sweetness at the end. I can see why people would like this style and a great introduction into some different styles.

 Young and Co Super Fresh Malbec 2019 Rating: C+ Price: $13

Just a little photo of some beautiful wines I’ve had recently.

 Just a little photo of some beautiful wines I’ve had

In Maori Hãhã means savoury and luscious, tasty and delicious. Great name for a winery, perfect even.

Entry level pinot but outlines a savoury note with a little spice. Needs food. I'll go for the obvious but would be perfect with some char grilled lamb on the bbq. It needs that element to pair with these flavours...simple...

I would love to know your recommendations on $25 and under Pinot. 🍷

 Hãhã 2018 Marlborough Pinot Noir New Zealand Rating: B

 Big weekend...simple... @winereview @wine le 🍷 📸 from

 Next Level... @winereview _simple 🍷 #domperignon #champion

 bottle shop. A great Pinot that everyone should try. Loved it...simple... 🍷

 Rating: Strong Buy 🍷  2016 Rabbit Ranch Pinot Noir from

Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014

Minimal intervention in both the vineyard and cellar. 25% whole clusters, fermented with indigenous yeast, unfined and unfiltered, and aged for 11 months in 20% new French oak.

Sweet, ripe fruit with a hint of cigar box spice aromas. Well structured, with velvety black and red cherry notes balanced by dried herbs and dusty earth. Firm tannins fuse with the harmonizing lengthy finish of fruit and spiced oak. Intense and lively, an engaging sip.

 Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago 2014 Minimal

Bringing tomato leaf, pineapple and melon, easing that NYC humidity 🥂

 Cheers to Sauvignon Blanc Day! One of my faves, Trinity

Highly aromatic with cherry, sour cherry, raspberry, woods, black pepper and a trace of wildflowers. Bright cherry, tangy pomegranate and red currant are enveloped in silky tannins and baking spice. Earth, peppery spice and a wisp of oak linger between each sip.

 Highly aromatic with cherry, sour cherry, raspberry, woods

Thank you 🙏🏻 for your likes and comments, Happy New Year friends!! Buon Anno amici!!! 🥂✨🎊

 Thank you 🙏🏻 for your likes and comments, Happy New Year

From a single vineyard with renowned stony, limestone soil, fermented in a combination of stainless steel tanks, French oak cuvées & French oak barriques. Complex and rich, sleek acidity frames lemon, flinty minerals, green apple, lime peel, herbs, jasmine and candied ginger. Dry minerals accent the crisp finish. Engaging and vibrant, each glass will empty rather swiftly.

Craggy Range ‘Te Muna Road’ Sauvignon Blanc Martinborough 2014

 From a single vineyard with renowned stony, limestone soil

Hillersden Single Vineyard Riesling Wairau Valley Marlborough 2015

Subtle petrol notes are ensconced with bright citrus, apple and honeysuckle flavours. The zippy, flinty mineral driven finish completes the refreshing character. Light, lively and changeable, it will disappear from your glass rather swiftly.

 Hillersden Single Vineyard Riesling Wairau Valley

Its a beautiful day for a master class tasting

 Its a beautiful day for a master class tasting #NYC #nzwine

Theo Coles low intervention wines are legendary for their pure expression of grape and terroir.

He sources fruit from small, organically farmed vineyards throughout the Canterbury region, using only traditional and minimal intervention methods in the cellar.

Vines are in glacial gravel soils, “grapes are destemmed and fermented on skins for 40 days”, bottled immediately after malolactic fermentation, unfined/unfiltered, with no added So2. “Made in the ancestral method, with one fermentation in the bottle and no disgorging.”

Deep gold in colour, very aromatic, with lemongrass, baked pear, tomato leaf, white flowers and orange zest. Lemon, candied ginger, tomato leaf, citrus blossom, a trace of pineapple and fresh acidity glide atop consistent, light fizz.

Yellow tomato, lemongrass, chalky minerality, pink grapefruit and orange zest linger on the zippy finish.

A fantastic fusion of citrus and savoury.

The Hermit Ram ‘Sauvignon Blanc Ancestral Method’ North Canterbury 2019

 Theo Coles low intervention wines are legendary for their

Perfect timing with all this unexpected heat and humidity!

 Happy Sauvignon Blanc Day!!! Perfect timing with all this

Light on its feet with sweet apple, peach and honeysuckle flavours balanced by bright acidity and an herbaceous streak. Fun, perky fizz carries thru to the clean mineral finish. Refreshing and light, a fun change of pace from Prosecco or Cava.

Hillersden Single Vineyard Legacy Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015

 Light on its feet with sweet apple, peach and honeysuckle

Fermented with wild yeasts, 80% in French oak barrels, a delightful, silky fusion of tropical fruit, lemon, cucumber, and minerals glossed by bright acidity and clean minerals. Wonderfully gluggable, a fantastic summer sipper.

Grey’s Peak Sauvignon Blanc Waipara Valley 2016