I tried this with its creator, Ben Glover (previously of Accolade, now focusing on family business Zephyr and other projects), in Scotch Bar in Blenheim a few weeks ago. I’d…
A couple of lovely Kiwi Pinots: Ma Maison and Yealands
Continuing my journey into the wonders of Kiwi Pinot, here are two lovely bottles recently consumed. The first was new to me. The second, Yealands, wasn’t a surprise: I always…
Gamay 31, Easthope Family Winegrowers 2015 Hawke’s Bay
There’s not a lot of Gamay in New Zealand, but it seems to have some promise here. The most well known example is the soild Te Mata Gamay, but there…
Fun in New Zealand’s Nelson-Tasman, at the top of South Island
I’ve been in New Zealand for the last week. The official reason for the trip was to present a couple of talks at the biodynamic and organic wine conference in…
Seresin Chardonnay Reserve 2013
Had this beauty from biodynamic Marlborough winery Seresin the other evening. It’s a really compelling Chardonnay. New Zealand’s top Chardonnays are underrated, and they can be superb. Seresin Chardonnay Reserve…
Kiwi gins and tonics: a comparative tasting
When I was in New Zealand in January, Hannah Burns of Craggy Range and I did an impromptu tasting of Kiwi gins. We tried the gins neat, and then in…
Two lovely Kiwi Pinots: Burn Cottage and Ata Rangi
It was nice to drink these two side by side: a couple of New Zealand’s most highly regarded Pinot Noirs. Both were showing really beautifully, in the middle of a…
Pinot Noir 2017, Wellington, New Zealand – a film
While I was attending Pinot Noir 2017, I put together a short-ish film of the proceedings, capturing some of the best moments of the three days. It was a…
New Zealand Pinot Noir: some favourites from Central Otago and Waitaki
Continuing my round up of top Pinot Noirs from the recent New Zealand trip, here are some favourites from Central Otago, with a couple from North Otago’s Waitaki thrown in…