New Zealand

17.5 points, Jancis Robinson: "Mid healthy garnet. Relatively complex savoury burgundian(?) nose. Sweet palate entry but not sickly. Really satisfying – fresh and fruity but with depths that suggest it will age quite well. Lovely balance. Côte de Beaune not Côte de Nuits (sorry for these French similes).

A lovely mixed case selection of x4 Isabel Chardonnay 2016, x4 Dog Point Chardonnay 2018 and x4 Dog Point Pinot Noir 2017.

Isabel Chardonnay 2016 x4: 

"Yet again, there's some reductive character – aiming at Coche? Real beginning, middle and end to the fresh, leesy, super-clean fruit. Bone-dry, smoky finish. Invigorating." Drink 2020 - 2024. 17 points, Jancis Robinson.

95 Points from Decanter. Tasted by Cameron Douglas, MS. Part of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: 20 from 2020. This wine was the joint top scoring Sauvignon Blanc.

*Prices in bond* The second ever vintage of Te Mata’s flagship pinot noir follows last year’s inaugural 2018 vintage, which was released to huge acclaim.  Balanced by a lingering acidity it has poise and grace. 

*Prices in bond* Te Mata’s iconic Hawke’s Bay Syrah is produced from the Bullnose and Isosceles vineyards in the Bridge Pa Triangle sub-region.  Aged in French oak for 15 months.  Ripe-fruited. Taut. Silky.

*Prices in bond* Te Mata’s flagship chardonnay.  Whole-bunch pressed, fermented in French oak and aged for a further 11 months in barrel, with only partial malolactic fermentation.  Complex, long and lively.

*Prices in bond* Cape Crest and its gannet symbol refer to Cape Kidnappers, the southern point of Hawke Bay - home to the world’s largest colony of these marine birds.  A Graves-style blend with great ageing potential. 

*Prices in bond* Awatea takes its name from the historic ship, SS Awatea  that sailed the Auckland - Sydney - Wellington route in the late 1930s.  The final blend is aged in new and seasoned French oak for 15 months. 

*Prices in bond* Coleraine ’19 is both Beauty and the Beast, capturing a new depth and power, with an exquisite perfume, and spellbinding enchantment.  A marriage of grace, refinement, strength and power.  

Isabel Estate produce their Chardonnay from the very first vines planted in the north-eastern corner of the estate in 1980. The intensely concentrated grapes result in a wine of elegance, complexity, depth and class.

96 points, Bob Campbell MW - Ranked: #1 of 30 2018 Pinot Noir from Martinborough

96 points, Bob Campbell MW - Ranked: #1 of 30 2018 Pinot Noir from Martinborough

#1 of 25 2020 Shiraz from Hawkes Bay (Real Review) and 98 Points from Wine Orbit.... A luminous deep magenta, Bullnose Syrah ’20 is immediately floral with fresh raspberry, black-cherry syrup, spiced plums and oriental peonies, all bursting from the glass.

#1 of 25 2020 Shiraz from Hawkes Bay (Real Review) and 98 Points from Wine Orbit.... A luminous deep magenta, Bullnose Syrah ’20 is immediately floral with fresh raspberry, black-cherry syrup, spiced plums and oriental peonies, all bursting from the glass.

#23 of 218 2020 Pinot Noirs from New Zealand and 96 points from Wine Orbit... Brilliant crimson with a royal purple edge, Alma Pinot Noir ’20 has an entrancing nose of wild strawberry and cherry syrup, oriental spice, sea salt and woodsmoke.

#23 of 218 2020 Pinot Noirs from New Zealand and 96 points from Wine Orbit... Brilliant crimson with a royal purple edge, Alma Pinot Noir ’20 has an entrancing nose of wild strawberry and cherry syrup, oriental spice, sea salt and woodsmoke.