I’m just waking up after my first sleep in New Zealand. After arriving at 7 am yesterday from London, I’m very proud that I managed to stay up until midnight, and slept through until this morning. I’ll need my energy: tonight it’s Wales v France, and I suspect a late night coming on.

I spent yesterday with a family I know who moved back to New Zealand several years ago, and who I catch up with on my NZ trips. We had a nice meal accompanied by some wines that I bought from a small wine store called Countdown in New Lynn. They seemed to have pretty keen prices, and a reasonable selection (prices are given in brackets after each wine – I’m not a discount junkie, it’s just that almost every wine in the store was discounted).

Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay 2010 Marlborough
Not my favourite. A bit syrupy and buttery with some richness and nutty notes in the background. Good acidity though. 83/100 ($24.99 reduced to $15.99)

Brancott Estate Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Marlborough
Bizarrely, while this is a nice wine, I prefer the regular Brancott Sauvignon for current drinking. Highly aromatic with fresh, intense lime and grapefruit notes as well as some green herbiness. Nice concentration and precise, bold flavours, with a lively finish. 87/100 ($26.13 reduced to $15.99)

Te Kairanga Pinot Noir 2009 Martinborough
The largest producer in Martinborough, but this wine is actually quite smart and was the first bottle finished. Attractive undergrowth, herb and cherry cola notes alongside the sweet red berry and red cherry fruit. Fresh, bright and fruit-dominated with a nice combination of sweet and savoury characters. Light and attractive. 88/100 ($25.99 reduced to $15.99)

CJ Pask Gimblett Road Syrah 2009 Hawkes Bay
Fresh, juicy, berryish and cherryish with a bit of pepper character. A lighter style of Syrah with some elegance and nice fruit, supported by some tannic structure. Young but nice. 88/100 ($22.99 reduced to $16.99)