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Tag Archives: new zealand

Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2024, Marlborough, New Zealand

19 Wednesday Nov 2025

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$13, 4 stars, 89 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Pale stars colored, with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of lemon/lime, grapefruit pith, peach, green almond, cut grass, and orange blossom.  The palate is dry, with high acidity, and a medium (-) body.  Medium intensity flavors of citrus with tropical notes and a green grass overlay.  The acidity is cutting and fresh.  The finish is medium (-) in length and I notice the wine taking on a bit of weight here.  It’s making my jaw water for sure, making me reach for another sip.  A delicious and typical Kiwi Sav Blanc that will provide much enjoyment, especially if paired with seafood.  It’s worthy of 89 point from me and at $13, it gets 4 stars.  Drink now.  Salut….

 Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc

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Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2021, Martinborough, New Zealand

16 Sunday Mar 2025

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$100, 4 stars, 93 points, Martinborough, new zealand, pinot noir


Medium ruby colored, slightly hazy (Unfined/unfiltered?), with a medium viscosity (14% ABV).  The nose has medium intensity aromas of ripe cranberry, red cherry compote, vanilla bean, baking spice, rhubarb pie, and lingonberry preserves.  It’s quite dense and ripe.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium body and medium tannins.  The red fruit flavors are quite pronounced, the vanilla and accompanying oak influence is very subtle and well integrated.  The tannins melt away beautifully and give this wine a lovely mouthfeel.  The finish has a touch of charred oak alongside some ever so slight tart and bitter notes.  It’s a really nice rendition of Kiwi Pinot- extracted a bit more than Burgundy, not as jammy as a Cali and showing off its own unique terror.   Nicely done- 93 points worth for this $100 offering which makes it a 4 star effort in my books.  I’m pairing it with roast duck breast, sugar snap peas and some boiled potatoes.  Drink till 2036.  Salut….

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir

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Oyster Bay Chardonnay 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand

14 Tuesday Jan 2025

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$11, 5 stars, 91 points, chardonnay, marlborough, new zealand


Pale lemon colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has medium (+) intensity aromas of seaweed, lemon zest, flint, tangerine, pomelo, white blossom, pineapple, and passion fruit.  Quite the fruit cocktail imho.  The palate is dry with medium acidity and a medium body.  Medium intensity flavors of lemon zest, pomelo, white blossom, and pineapple with that briny seaweed note adding a touch of interesting segue.  It’s not your normal Napa Chard, nor is it a Chablis- something of an outlier from the two classics.  It is weighty but still refreshing, crisp yet stoic.  The finish is medium (+) in length and concentrates on the citrus notes.  A really delicious wine that has not had all the ‘treatments’ of MLF, new oak, battonage etc.  91 points from me for this $11 steal makes it a 5 star bottle to buy cases of.  This will pair nicely with grilled salmon, roast chicken, fresh salad, and calamari.  Drink till 2026.  Salut….

Oyster Bay Chardonnay

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Kia Ora Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand

27 Tuesday Aug 2024

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$14, 5 stars, 91 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Very pale lemon colored with titanium highlights and a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of lime zest, lime, cut grass, asparagus, white blossom, orange blossom, hints of peach, grapefruit and sea spray.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  The citrus driven nose is echoed on the palate with some green notes, stone fruit and florals.  It’s a flavor driven wine for sure- delicious and refreshing with the cutting acidity.  The finish is quite long and tangy.  I paid $14 for this bottle that gets 91 points from me making it a 5 star effort to drink in the near term.  I’m frying up some Mahi Mahi and roasted veggies to pair.  Salut….

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Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

08 Thursday Aug 2024

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$22, 2 stars, 85 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir


I recently tasted the 2020 Oyster Bay Pinot Noir and like it, here goes with its older sibling, the 2019.  Medium ruby colored with a watery sheen (13.5% ABV).  The nose has medium (-) intensity aromas of red raspberry, red cherry compote, baking spice, vanilla, oak plank, peppermint and granite.  The palate is dry with medium (+) acidity, a medium (-) body and medium (-) tannins.  The flavors echo the nose in both intensity and descriptors, not that much going on unfortunately.  The finish is a touch tart and medium (-) in length.  Overall this is not as good as the younger bottle and I would drink it right away, there is not enough intensity or structure for development.  85 points from me for this $20 effort makes it a 2 star wine.  Salut….

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Oyster Bay Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough, New Zealand

14 Sunday Jul 2024

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$22, 5 stars, 90 points, marlborough, new zealand, pinot noir


Medium ruby colored with medium viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of barnyard, roses, baking spices, dusty bramble, cherry and black raspberry.  On the  palate it is dry with medium acidity, medium (-) tannins and a medium body. I get flavors of funky barnyard, cherry, raspberry, roses and deft oak that lead to a medium length finish. 90 points from me for this $22 effort makes it a 5 star wine.  Drink till 2028.  (It got 86 pints on release but I feel it has developed nicely, if you like a meatier, heavier style of Pinot with lashings of oak).  Salut….

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Esk Valley Merlot – Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec 2020, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

08 Wednesday May 2024

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$20, 5 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, gimblett gravels, Malbec, merlot, new zealand


Deep purple, slight staining and medium viscosity (14% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of dusty earth, black plum, black raspberry, cedar, smoked meat, vanilla, baking spice, creme de menthe and green herb garni.  On the palate- medium acidity, medium body and medium tannins.  Gorgeous mouthfeel with dark fruit, supple structure, excellent integration and a medium length finish.  91 points- drink till 2028.  $ 20 makes this a 5 star wine to buy in bulk.  Salut….

 

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Rippon Mature Vines Pinot Noir 2019, Wanaka, New Zealand

23 Saturday Mar 2024

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$55, 4 stars, 92 points, new zealand, pinot noir, VWTC, wanaka


The second wine at our 35th tasting was this Kiwi Pinot.  It is pale-to-medium garnet colored with medium viscosity (13.5% ABV).  Medium (+) intensity aromas of black cherry, cherry Coke, barnyard, cranberry, white pepper, licorice and leather.  On the palate it was dry with medium (+) acidity, medium (-) body and low tannins.  Flavors of cherry cola, Rooibos tea, white and black pepper, clove, cedar, cough medicine and yet more cherry led to a medium length finish.  I loved this wine for its beautiful mouthfeel and great balance and gave it 15 points on our scoring sheet.  We paid $55, which is quite pricy but the quality and purity of this wine was worth it- 92 points from me which makes it a 4 star effort to drink till 2028.  Salut….

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McBride Sisters Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand

09 Saturday Mar 2024

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$13, 5 stars, 91 points, marlborough, new zealand, Sauvignon blanc


Pale straw colored with a watery sheen (13% ABV).  The nose has intense aromas of cut grass, asparagus, gooseberry, Kaffir lime, peach and orange blossom.  The palate is dry with high acidity and a medium (-) body.  Tart yet refreshing I get medium (+) intensity flavors of lemon, Kaffir lime, gooseberry, cut grass and dare I say it- cat pee?  (I actually like this note in my Sav Blanc every so often).  The wine has a crispness to it and is laser focused.  The finish is medium to long in length and the fruit warms up a bit- not as zesty as the opening.  I like this $13 bottle- a lot.  91 points worth and 5 stars from me.  A fascinating story about the winemakers- look it up here https://www.mcbridesisters.com/pages/story.  Drink till 2025.  Salut….

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Mission Estate Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Gimblett Gravels, New Zealand

31 Thursday Aug 2023

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$25, 4 stars, 91 points, cabernet sauvignon, gimblett gravels, Hawkes Bay, new zealand


Medium ruby with high viscosity (14% ABV) and slight staining.  Aromas of blackberry cobbler, black plum, licorice, toasty oak, vanilla, baking spices and a touch of mint.  Medium acidity coupled with medium (+) tannins and a full body lead to a delicious dark fruit melange.  Nicely integrated oak adds depth and warmth whilst the tannins caress my gums with their powdery texture- a treat to drink.  Medium length finish makes this a 91 point wine to enjoy till 2027.  I purchased it in the UK for about $25, making it a 4 star effort.  Salut….

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