The following local selection of currently available New Zealand ‘Classic Summer’ wines - are an ideal pairing with a diverse number of casual summer occasions & cuisine. Here are a few brief words to describe my first impressions and the essence of each wine. A versatile range of 12 New Zealand wines ready to be sipped, savoured & shared over the summer months. 'Support Local & Share Local Wines'.
Remember - 'when & where possible, all wine tastes better when served from the appropriate glass and at the ideal temperature’.
Akarua Brut Vintage 2015
Region: Central Otago
Head Winemaker: Andrew Keenleyside
A classic Methode Traditionnelle - with a minimum of 3 years on lees and then another six months under cork before release. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir & 30% Chardonnay. Small production in selected vintages. Complex citrus fruits, exotic florals, roasted nuts and biscotti. A fine mousse with mineral-acidity, and a long crisp finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 9°- 10°C
*Retail - NZ$52.99 : 5 Stars
Lake Chalice ‘The Raptor’
Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Region: Marlborough
Head Winemaker: Chloe Gabrielsen
On the nose lifted aromas of tomato leaf, along with passion-fruit and an underlying grapefruit note. On the palate these aromas carry though combining with blackcurrant and passion-fruit flavours along with a mineral note and balanced acidity that gives elegance and leading onto a memorable finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 9°C
*Retail - NZ$22.99 : 5 Stars
The Winemaker’s Wife
Pinot Gris 2020
Region: Waipara Valley
Owner / Winemaker: Simon McGeorge
Crafted from the well renowned aromatic wine region of Waipara. The result is a dry Pinot Gris with wonderful texture and opulent fruit flavours, as each sip reveals nashi pear and quince, followed by a well balanced touch of citrus keeping things uplifted with good length, and a vibrant finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 10°C
*Retail - NZ$21.99 : 5 Stars
Allan Scott ‘Black Label’
Chardonnay 2019
Region: Marlborough
Owner / Director: Allan Scott
The Scott family wanted a produce a versatile, early drinking style of Marlborough Chardonnay, displaying ripe stone fruits, along with juicy apples, pear along with almond notes from time in oak barrels, along with subtle mineral notes all rounded off with a scrumptious clean dry finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 10°C
*Retail - NZ$22.99 : 4 Stars
Jules Taylor ‘OTQ’ Chardonnay 2018
Region: Marlborough
Owner / Winemaker: Jules Taylor
The palate has excellent fruit intensity and a medium to full bodied weight. Those ripe stone and pip-fruits are combined with apple-pie notes from its time in French oak, and a butterscotch character from barrel fermentation. Well-structured combining lifted fruit flavours and acidity, with a classic dry finish.
• Chill gently & serve between 9°- 11°C
*Retail - NZ$42.99 : 5 Stars
Zephyr Chardonnay 2019
Region: Marlborough
Owner / Winemaker: Ben Glover
An engaging mix of ripe apples, citrus, subtle peach notes and ciabatta toast from the time in oak. The wine has infused well with the thoughtful use of oak, balanced by a bespoke amount of malolactic fermentation, choreographed to retain natural vibrancy and express the unique terroir from the Dillon's Point vineyard.
• Chill gently & serve between 9°- 11°C
*Retail - NZ$29.99 : 5 Stars
Matawhero ‘IRWIN’ Chardonnay 2018
Region: Gisborne
Owner / Director: Kirsten Searle
This wine is the wineries flagship Chardonnay, confidently showcasing a medley of ripe peaches, nectarines and melon flavours, infused with toasty oak. An engaging style with a well-balanced structure and harmonious natural fruit acidity resulting in a defined lingering classic dry finish.
• Chill decant & serve between 9°- 11°C
*Retail - NZ$59.99 : 4 Stars
Middle Earth Rosé 2020
Region: Nelson
Head Winemaker: Trudy Shield
Proudly crafted from 100% Pinot Meunier. This is a light to medium bodied Rosé with a lifted nose of watermelon and citrus. This Rosé has a subtle amount of residual sugar which accentuates the fruit flavours which are given a defined edge from the natural citrus acidity. Bottled summer that stretches out across your palate.
• Chill gently & serve between 8°- 10°C
*Retail - NZ$23.99 : 5 Stars
Rimu Grove ‘Nelson’
Pinot Noir 2014
Region: Nelson
Owner / Winemaker: Patrick Stowe
Great to taste an aged Nelson Pinot Noir, expressing bright varietal aromas nicely accentuated with toasty oak, vanilla and savoury spice. An extremely textural wine, a medium to full in style with fine-grained tannins that broaden the palate and resulting in a lingering dry finish.
• No decanting & serve between 15°- 17°C
*Retail - NZ$41.99 : 4 Stars
Nga Waka ‘Lease Block’
Pinot Noir 2018
Region: Martinborough
Founder / Winemaker: Roger Parkinson
Dark cherries and dried herbs entice you to this wine. The palate transfers these aromas into flavours of ripe, cherries, spice, dried herbs and savoury characters, which engage palate with solid texture, under-pinned by smooth tannins and subtle, refined oak from appropriate barrel maturation.
• Mild decanting & serve between 15°- 17°C
*Retail - NZ$44.99 : 5 Stars
Brookfields ‘Hillside’
Syrah 2018
Region: Hawke's Bay
Owner / Winemaker: Peter Robertson
The iconic ‘Hillside’ Syrah is an expression of where it is grown. Showcasing dark plums, blackcurrants, black-pepper, dried herbs, French oak and ripe supple tannins engage across your palate. This NZ Syrah is renowned for its refined concentration being aged for 17 months in new French oak barriques.
• Mild decanting & serve between 16°- 17°C
*Retail - NZ$49.99 : 5 Stars
Stonyridge ‘Luna Negra’
Malbec 2019
Region: Waiheke Island
Senior Winemaker: Martin Pickering
This 100% Malbec is alluring and smooth in both general character and varietal typicity on the palate. Inviting aromas of wild blackcurrants, black cherries, dark cacao & cardamom which perfectly develop into engaging flavours on the palate, and all well balanced by the deft use of oak resulting in a memorable finish.
• Mild decanting & serve between 17°- 18°C
*Retail - NZ$94.99 : 4 Stars