New World sparkling wine isn’t my happiest hunting ground. But this is really good: full flavoured, complex, intense. I can’t find any UK stockists, but I reckon it will come…
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2011
I’ve really liked a lot of the 2011 Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs that I’ve tried. And here’s another good one. It’s from Brent Maris’ new venture in the Waihopai subdistrict of…
Greywacke Pinot Noir
Very impressed with this. Kevin Judd is well known for his Sauvignons, but this Pinot Noir is one of a growing band of serious expressions of this grape from New…
Video: Brancott Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand
A short film from my visit to the Marlborough wine region this week, including the famous tipping tanks.
‘Wines from here will become world famous’
The title of this blog post – ‘wines from here will be come world famous’ – were the prophetic words uttered by Montana’s Frank Yukich as he put the first…
Meeting the Prime Minister at the opening of the Brancott Estate Heritage Centre
Last night was fun. It was the official opening of the new Brancott Estate Heritage Centre, which has recently been completed. The centre has been built on a small hill…
Brancott Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2011
So, after reporting the new release of Cloudy Bay’s Sauvignon Blanc, here’s another Marlborough classic: Brancott Estate. Until 2010 this was labelled Montana, and as such, it was another wine…
Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011, the new release
The world’s most famous Sauvignon Blanc has had a few rocky years, but I reckon the 2011 is right back on form. This is a bity expensive compared with its…
Two good Kiwi wines from Villa Maria
Very impressed by this pair by Villa Maria, one of New Zealand’s most consistent producers. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2009 Marlborough Seriously seductive Pinot. Sweet cherry and berry…