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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 1st February 2012
WInes made from Traditional French Varieties
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Tohu Mugwi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010
A sweet-fruited and floral smelling wine with a hint of snow pea that's joined in the palate by juicy banana passionfruit and honeydew melon. With a little age and a touch of oak to add a mellow complexity, there's nothing at all brash about this wine. The texture is harmoniously smooth and the finish is rounded and long. Very nice and popular on the night. Gold Medal Air NZ Wine Awards 2011.
13.8% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Domaine Seguinot Chablis Grand Vin De Bourgogne 2009 – Burgundy, France
A pale wine with a shy and delicate scent of tropical fruit, citrus and a hint of cream that's just starting to turn. Soft textured with a tingle of zest but quite neutral flavours of apple and pear. A steely, cool climate style with an incredibly dry finish that is expansive and long.
13% alc. Diam. $33.99.

Waimea Nelson Viognier 2009
We are redeemed in the aroma department with the rich, almost sweet, opulent, fragrant scent and the heady flavours of butterscotch and caramel in harmony with juicy apricot and peach. Rich in colour with a smooth texture, a curvaceous complexity and an expansive finish. We rated it 5 stars. Trophy New Zealand International Wine Show 2010.
14% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Johanneshof Marlborough Medium Pinot Gris 2009
Expressively perfumed and fragrant, more redolent of Gewurztraminer than Pinot Gris and the taste is full-bodied, textural and spicy with Turkish Delight, spiced baked apple and candied violets. Made in the rich, opulent Alsatian style, it's golden in colour with a sweet disposition and a long mouthfilling finish.
13% alc. Diam. $29.99.

Main Divide Pokiri Reserve Late Picked Pinot Gris 2009
Golden hued with a lime and honeysuckle aroma and a rich sweet flavour of honey, beeswax, candied peel and a sweet orange marmalade finish. A late picked wine with a touch of botrytis, a lightly viscous texture and impeccable balance. Most of the tasters classified the wine as 'medium sweet'. 5 stars from the group on the night. 5 Stars Winestate Magazine. 5 stars value.
13% alc. Screwcap. $22.99 special.

Fairmont Block One Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2009
Dark garnet red with an intense aroma of plums, smoke and leather, this silky textured Pinot is full of flavour with that quintessential gamey savouriness, a touch of spice and a long meaty finish. A zing of acidity on the finish is a sign of its potential longevity. Gold Medal NZIWS 2010. 5 star quality rating. 5 star value rating.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Pegasus Bay Waipara Pinot Noir 2009
Youthful ruby garnet in appearance, perfumed and floral with a little funk and game. Initially more strawberry and cherry flavours with slight grip to the tannins and floral notes, which are a clue to the region, makes it seem more 'elegant' style than the Pegasus Bay styles of the past, but there's a deep, earthy, gamey, savoury sense and a beautifully expansive and deliciously long finish that lingers for minutes. Outstanding Waipara Pinot.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $51.99.

Quarisa 30 Mile Shiraz 2008 Australia
Black red with moderate intensity, it has a rich berry fruit aroma infused with cedary oak and a touch of spice and soft, juicy flavours of chocolate-coated blueberries with a touch of nutmeg and fruitcake cherries. A little sweet on the finish but this medium to full-bodied sipper is soft, smooth and so easy to enjoy.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $13.99 special.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2008
Black purple, shiny and dense. The bouquet is spicy and savoury with smoky oak and leather. A very dry wine but profound and rich with ultra-ripe fruit and lashings of black pepper. Still looking youthful but settled in the palate with a long lasting finish, it has excellent potential to age and is best enjoyed with food right now. Elite Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2009.
13% alc. Cork. $35.99.

Mitolo Jester McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008
Black deep and dense with a bouquet of sweet vanillin oak and super ripe fruit seducing the senses. With flavours of dark berry fruit, a hint of chocolate, a flourish of spice, underlying leather and a touch of chicory on the finish it seems easy to start but the tannins in this wine are deceptive. It’s big and bold with a firm dry finish.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $29.99.

Quarisa Johnny Q Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Purple black coloured with a seductive aroma of creamy vanillin oak, chocolate and cassis. A big rich wine with a full body, smooth yet firm tannins and plenty of red berry and cassis flavour. The underlying acidity is a clue to its makeup. A lovely wine and undoubtedly the 'hot buy' of the night. The NZIWS judges gave it a gold medal and we rated it 5 stars - both in quality and value.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $14.99 special.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet 2008
Shiny black red, impenetrable and dense. The bouquet of fine French oak, chocolate and anise oozes finesse and the palate back us the promise. With dark berry fruit, cassis and firm tannins, this is a deep rich wine with a long life ahead of it. Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2010. 5 star quality rating.
14% alc. Cork. $35.99.

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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 25th January 2012
A Summer Theme
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Full of flavour and pungency with mouthfilling green apples, juicy grapes, tomato, capsicum, lime, gooseberry and passionfruit, a bright tangy finish and a toasty richness to the lingering aftertaste. A terrific wine. Gold Medal & Trophy Marlborough Wine Show.
12.5% alc. Screwcap. $15.99 special.

Spinyback Nelson Chardonnay 2009
Smoky with creamed nuts and oatmeal on the nose and nutty and savoury in the palate with polished lemony oak, a touch of butterscotch and yellow peach. Drinking at its best and well received by the tasting group.
13.8% alc. Screwcap. $10.99 special.

Seresin Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2009
A rich powerful golden chardonnay with lovely balance and harmony. Funky wild yeast and savoury smoky French oak aromas carry through to the full-bodied palate with melon, nectarine, lemon oil, allspice and nutmeg. The oak is integrating beautifully and there's a touch of caramel to the finish. Class all the way through and quite delicious. 13.5% alc. Screwcap. $40.99.

Neudorf Moutere Nelson Chardonnay 2010
The aroma and flavours are so much more nutty, and while the aroma seems a little restrained, the smooth, creamy flavours are rich and full and beautifully expansive in the palate. With nuts, figs, lots of acidity and yeast lees characters, it just needs more time to evolve, but Neudorf's Moutere Chardonnays are incredibly long-lived and reward cellaring upon release.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $69.99.

Sherwood Estate Waipara Riesling 2009
Rich gold coloured with tantalising aromatics of honeysuckle and mandarin and honeyed and sweet to the taste with juicy sweet citrus and a nice touch of viscosity – it's clean, fresh, zingy and zesty despite the 'medium' sweetness. A touch of Botrytis adds lusciousness. Chill to the bones for the utmost enjoyment. Amazing quality at this price.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $9.99 special.

Menhir No Zero Negroamaro 2008 - Salento, Italy
Impenetrable black red with a perfume of rose petals, black cherries and hot tar, this tastes sweet and juicy with liquorice and rich berry flavours. It's more fruity than oaky with firm tannins, underlying savouriness and a ripe, juicy, lingering aftertaste.
13% alc. Screwcap. $20.99.

Muriel Rioja Seleccion 2009 - Spain
Blackcurrant red with a hint of chocolate and cherry on the nose, sweet vanillin oak wells through the palate and the initially dry tannins dissolve into the deliciously juicy red fruit flavours. Nice touch of dusty, rustic savouriness too. Good value medium-bodied Spanish Rioja.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $17.99 special.

Sleeping Dogs Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008
Light garnet red with a kind of a bath salts perfume, this is not a big fruity wine, in fact quite light in the realm of Central Otago Pinot Noir. It's very savoury, a little reminiscent of Beaujolais and perhaps reflective of the difficult vintage. Soft, smooth and drinkable now.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $29.99 special.

Ringbolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Dark purplish red with a full aroma of nuts and cassis, it's full-bodied in the palate with mint, chicory, dried herbs, nut chocolate, firm tannins, a little touch of cake spice, lots of berry flavours and a long savoury finish. Delivers exceptional value.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Grant Burge Cameron Vale Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
A blockbuster of a wine, both in colour and flavour, it's opulently scented with sweet oak, spice and chocolate and oozes berry fruit flavours that are layered with creamy American oak, chocolate and hints of tobacco. Big, rich, soft and juicy with a deep full-bodied finish and a smidgen of mint on the lingering aftertaste. Gold Medal NZ International Wine Show
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $31.99.

Vasse Felix Margaret River Shiraz 2007
Black red, inky. This has an OMG sumptuous aroma of vanillin oak, dark fruit and sweet spices. Full-bodied, juicy and spicy, balanced and harmonious with a sensual tannin structure, ripe berry fruit, a touch of the quintessential mint and subtle pepper notes.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $39.99.

Beach House Noble Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Radiant yellow gold, emanating nectar-like scents and delectable sweet flavours balanced by a zingy undercurrent. There's lots of honey, apricot, candied fennel and candied oranges – quite delicious for sweet wine lovers and still remarkably fresh. Gold Medal NZ International Wine Show
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $27.99 / 375ml.

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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 18th January 2012
A Summer Theme
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Petaluma Hanlin Hill Clare Valley Riesling 2008
Dazzling lemon gold in the glass with a tantalising tropical fruit, melon and dried hay aroma. There's a lovely weighty richness to the beautifully clean, rich palate with concentrated fruit purity to the fore. Bone dry with a racy citrus zest backbone, a smooth almost oily texture and just a hint of kero starting to creep in, it's refreshing and delicious and can be well chilled.
12.5% alc. Screwcap. $27.99.

Ngatarawa Silks Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
Light gold coloured with a sizzled butter and grilled peach aroma, it tastes abundantly fruity with exotic tropical fruits like cherimoya and pawpaw. Medium bodied with lovely harmony of oak and fruit, drinking beautifully on the night, juicy fruit is the hero, yet there's a well-balanced savoury backbone. Very good indeed.
13% alc. Screwcap. $14.99 special.

Nga Waka Martinborough Chardonnay 2010
Chardonnay more as we know it, golden coloured with lots of delicious toasty oak, stonefruit, butter, sizzled nuts and a little hint of salinity. A full-bodied style with lovely fruit intensity and well balanced citrussy tones, building in the palate to a long lasting finish. Can be well chilled and drinking beautifully right now.
13.5%alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Ngatarawa Glazebrook Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010
More of a mealy, dry, barrel-fermented style with stonefruit, spicy oak and a hint of malt in the background. While golden in colour it's tighter than the Nga Waka, but more winemaker influenced than it stablemate, the Silks. A serious wine that's still evolving and best as a 'main course wine' or laid down in the cellar for a while.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Man O War Ponui Island Pinot Gris 2011
Straw coloured with fresh orchard fruit aromas and a juicy, mouth-tickling spritzy taste. It's a light fresh fruity wine with lots of fresh fruit salad and citrus flavours and just a touch of sweetness. Takes chilling well – a perfect summer drink.
12% alc. Screwcap. $29.99.

Arrogant Frog Ribet Pink Rose 2010 - Languedoc, France
Salmon / light ruby coloured, clear as can be. Aromas of cherry and strawberry continue through to the almost bone dry palate where the texture is slightly oily and there's a pleasing touch of spice. Made from 100% Syrah, it must be served well chilled on a hot summer afternoon.
13% alc. Screwcap. $14.99 special.

Mills Reef Reserve Hawkes Bay Syrah 2010
Vibrant purple red with smoky vanillin oak, juicy red fruits and liquorice aromas. Crammed full of blackberry fruit with a savoury backbone, it's soft smooth and creamy with well rounded tannins and a spicy infusion. The pepper is there but it's not intrusive. Harmonious throughout and just so easy to enjoy.
13.5%alc. Screwcap. $20.99 special.

Antinori Santa Cristina 2009 - Tuscany, Italy
This blackcurrant red coloured wine is different on the nose and in the palate. It's earthy and savoury with fine firm tannins and a meaty backbone, yet the brambly fruit is juicy and ripe. More of a food wine with a lingering finish, it makes a nice change if you are looking for savouriness over fruitiness. Made from 60% Sangiovese with 40% Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah. "Approachable and supple," says Sam.
13% alc. Cork. $20.99.

Penfolds Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache 2008 - South Australia
Inky black red with tantalising sweet vanillin oak, spice and chocolate biscuit aromas, this is straight up and down South Australia. It's rich, ripe, sweet and juicy with cherries and chocolate, spicy savoury flavours, soft tannins and a slightly tarry backbone. From the beautiful rich, ripe 2008 vintage, it's smooth and generous and succulent and delicious drinking right now.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $25.99 special.

Torres Ibericos Tempranillo Crianza 2008 - Rioja, Spain
Dark red coloured with a lovely deep dense aroma, this is a savoury, fine tannined wine with vanillin oak sweetness, creamy texture and juicy fruit. With the American oak and its rounded, supple smoothness, it's easy to think Australia yet the slightly oily earthy character could be a clue to Spain. A terrific food wine, it has lots of pepper well balanced to the fruit and oak. Good wine.
14% alc. Cork. $27.99.

Torbreck Woodcutter's Barossa Valley Shiraz 2010 - South Australia
Impenetrable purple black with a deep and distinctly cassis-like scent, it seems moderately high-toned and heady in the smooth, seamless palate with blackberries and blueberries, dark chocolate, liquorice, black pepper and tar. A juicy wine with firm tannins and a well balanced savoury backbone, there were utters of "yum" all around.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $29.99 special.

Allan Scott Late Harvest Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Apricot abounds in this delectable, sweet, brassy gold-coloured wine. It's very, very sweet with passionfruit, honey and just a touch of VA. Rich and luscious with unbelievable viscosity and a long lasting finish. Trophy Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2010.
9% alc. Screwcap. $27.99.

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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 11th January 2012
A Summer Theme
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Dog Point Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Pale straw. A racy, complex and alternative Sauvignon Blanc style with grapefruit aromatics and fresh acidity humming through the palate, yet a textural softness even though there is no oak. There's a toasty capsicum nuance throughout and the super long finish is infused with passionfruit and peach.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $27.99.

Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay 2010
Light gold. Spicy with the merest tantalising nuance of butterscotch and wild yeast funk on the nose and soft and creamy tasting with caramel-coated toasty savoury oak, spiced peaches, citrus and nectarine. It's full and rich with a smooth, easy-going, seamless flow and while delicious already without too much chilling, it will garner more complexity with a couple of years cellaring.
14% alc. Screwcap. $29.99 special.

The Winery of Good Hope Bush Vine Chenin Blanc 2010 - South Africa
Pale lemon coloured and restrained on the nose, this is a tight-knit and linear style, a dry, nutty, melon and citrus style with the most subtle suggestion of savoury oak, a touch of honey and a long rich textural finish. Super steely, yet doesn't display the characteristic apple we associate with the variety.
12.5% alc. Screwcap. $15.99 special.

Felton Road Dry Central Otago Riesling 2011
Pale straw coloured with a full bouquet of apple and lemon honey, the palate is imbued with crisp dry acidity and lots of zest and pith. Yet it has impeccable fruit balance and a subtle oiliness when served well chilled so it's not at all sharp. A super choice for lovers of dry Riesling because this is a brilliant example.
12.5% alc. Screwcap. $33.99.

Charles Wiffen Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2009
Perfumed with rose oil and violets, this redolent wine is easy to identify. It tastes rich and fresh with spicy ginger-like tingles, juicy lychees, a rounded oiliness to the texture and a honeyed sweetness to the finish. Gold Medal & Trophy Spiegelau International Wine Show.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $21.99 special.

Domaine de la Pregentiere Rose 2010 - Provence, France
Palest of transparent pink with a delicate bouquet of cherry and cherry stones that carries through to the palate. This is an unusually rare, seriously dry Rose. It's subtle yet affirmative, textural and mouthcoating with a lingering rose petal finish.
13% alc. Screwcap. $20.99.

Andeol Salavert 'Reserve des Chapelains' Costieres De Nimes 2010 - Languedoc, France
Black red coloured with a savoury, peppery scent and a deep rich spicy peppery savouriness to the taste, the pepperiness well balanced to the black cherry fruit, chocolate, mushrooms and herbs. A dry, firm wine, medium-bodied in style, made from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and fabulous value for money.
13% alc. Cork. $15.99.

Kiritea Martinborough Pinot Noir 2010
Lightest Burgundy red, it's earthy and savoury smelling and tasting with plums, cherries, smoky oak, spice and hints of tamarillo on the finish. A soft, juicy, easy drinker with a smooth texture and finishing dry, the general comment around the room was 'very tasty'. Second label of Te Hera.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage 2009 - Rhone, France
Vivid black purple red with a funky and reductive scent, and a positively European flavour, it's peppery, spicy, oily, tarry and leathery with smoked meats and woody herbs and the texture is fine. Made from 100% Syrah and evidently a very good vintage for the region, just quite different to what we are used to.
13.5% alc. Cork. $42.99.

Wirra Wirra RSW McLaren Vale Shiraz 2009 - South Australia
Black red coloured with a sweet vanillin oak and spiced plum scent, it's soft, ripe, juicy and just so easy to enjoy. "But don't get excited because it's expensive," says Kingsley. Crammed with mouthfilling flavours of vanilla, chocolate, juicy red berries and allspice, it's the smooth, rich, creamy style of full-bodied Shiraz so many of us like to drink. Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $59.99.

Pepperjack Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - South Australia
Vivid purple black red coloured with a chocolatey aroma with Black Forest cake, vinosity, spice and the most subtle suggestion of mint. In the palate it's full-bodied and juicy with a fine firm tannin structure, spiced blackberry fruit and an earthy herbal depth. Matured for 15 months in French and American oak and delicious now or over the next 5 years.
14% alc. Screwcap. $18.99 special.

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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 4th January 2012
A Summer Theme
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Selaks Heritage Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
With fresh, ripe, juicy and tantalising aromas of passionfruit and candied herbs, this initially soft gentle style compounds to a long bright tangy finish with lingering flavours of passionfruit and cape gooseberry. Terrific Sauv. Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show.
13% alc. Screwcap. $15.99 special.

Astrolabe Province Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Initially restrained on the nose and neutral and flinty in the palate, then it simply gushes with flavours of snow pea, tomato stalk and lime with a zesty infusion to the backbone and sweet summer herbs on the finish. Seems like a beaut style to accompany a tomato and basil salad.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $21.99 special.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Viognier 2009
Glassy yellow gold with a tempting bouquet of caramel cream, apricot and spicy oak and a rich, smooth, creamy texture layered with tropical fruit and apricot. There's purity of fruit all the way through, this finish is rich and heady and there's a flourish of butterscotch at the end. Trophy New Zealand International Wine Show 2010
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $29.99 special.

Black Estate Waipara Chardonnay 2010
Light gold coloured with a heady citrus blossom scent underpinned with cedary oak, this savoury wild-fermented wine is leesy, lemony and nutty with a spicy oak backbone and citrus-infused white peach. Full, rich, mouth filling and long with lingering caramel, butterscotch and malt.
14.2% alc. Screwcap. $34.99.

Crossroads Kereru Road Vineyard Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2010
Straw gold coloured with a tropical fruit aroma, this initially seems more of a 'Chablis' style, seemingly lightly oaked with a fresh springy step. Tasting juicy and fresh with a creamy backbone, nectarine, white peach and a touch of caramel, it takes chilling well.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $39.99.

Marsden Estate Black Rocks Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2010
Light gold coloured with a rich, toasty oak aroma, this tasty, full-bodied, mouth coating wine has a deep caramel richness, tropical fruit, grilled peach and a soft creamy backbone. Northland's top Chardonnay, it delivers every vintage. Gold Medal New Zealand International Wine Show.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $32.99. Currently not available.

Luzon Carmina Luna Monastrell Cabernet Sauvignon NV - Spain
Dark red coloured with concentrated currant-like fruit on the nose, it's medium-bodied in style and tastes dry and savoury with fine tannins, currants, bitter cherries and leather with a lingering finish infused with a juicy ripe fruit sweetness. Great BBQ quaffer.
15% alc. Cork. $9.99 special.

Step By Step Step Two South Australia Shiraz 2008
Black red coloured with inviting scents of mocha and red berries, this tastes full-bodied, ripe, succulent and juicy with a savoury, spicy backbone, dark berry fruit and a creamy oak finish. It's the kind of delicious opulent red we like to drink because it's fantastically priced and so easy to enjoy. Top buy.
13.9% alc. Screwcap. $12.99 special.

Vicente Gandia Camboral Reserva Tempranillo 2006 - Cosecha, Spain
Bright black red with stewed summer berry scents and a very fine texture with loads of juicy, succulent berry flavours and a beautifully balanced spicy savoury backbone, it's definitely a hot climate wine but is it Australian or Spanish? It's the latter but the succulent American oak is deceptive. Like an old school Rioja – love it.
14% alc. Cork. $32.99.

Wirra Wirra Church Block McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz Merlot 2009
Deep black red with vinous complexities to the red berry aroma and tasting of ribena, cigar box and cedar with a creamy richness and thick tannins, this is a brooding wine with a juicy finish. A blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Shiraz and 20% Merlot mature in 70% French oak and 30% American.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $21.99.

Henry's Drive Pillar Box Padthaway Cabernet 2009
Vibrant purple black red. Smoky and peppery with a meaty nuance to the scent, this is a full-bodied, rich, spicy wine with chocolate biscuits, hints of mint and dry extract and an opulence that creeps up on the finish. "Sweet and rich with a herbal edge" says Sam. It's a plush ripe Cabernet with lots of oak and the underlying acidity is probably the best clue to the variety. 93+/100 Wine Orbit
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $20.99 special.

Two Hands Gnarly Dudes Barossa Valley Shiraz 2010
Impenetrable shiny blackberry red. Opulent smelling and sweet-fruited and juicy tasting with ultra-fine tannins, blackberry jubes, mocha, chicory, pepper and a beautifully balanced savoury integrated oak backbone. Fine and long, with a marvellous lasting presence.
14.8% alc. Screwcap. $38.99.

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Fine Wine Wednesday Tasting, 21st December  2011
Delicious Wines for Christmas
Tasting notes by Sue Courtney (www.wineoftheweek.com). All of the wines were tasted blind.

Sherwood Estate Waipara Riesling 2009
This deliciously refreshing aperitif style is coloured citrine and crammed with tropical fruit and honeysuckle with scintillating lime-like acidity bringing the sweetness into balance. For those who loved the 2008 tasted recently, this is quite a different style. Be sure to served chilled for utmost enjoyment this summer. 13.5% alc. Screwcap. $9.99 special.

Astrolabe Marlborough Chardonnay 2009
Light gold with a smoky, nutty, savoury scent and a creamy savoury flavour with grapefruit, oatmeal nuances, hints of apricot, a tickle of spice and a long fruit-sweet finish, the oak sit harmoniously in the background without intruding and there's an intriguing salty tang.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $22.99 special.

Taylors St Andrews Clare Valley Chardonnay 2008
A seriously dry Chardonnay, a figs and nuts style of Chardonnay with winemaking influences to the fore. Spicy and zesty with hints of lime and a long creamed nut finish and plenty of oak as it lingers.
13% alc. Screwcap. $35.99 special.

Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2009
Creamy smelling with a tantalising smoky oak nuance, and smooth and seamless to the taste with sweet nutty oak, ripe stonefruit, juicy tropical fruit, oatmeal and warm spices. Rich, creamy and powerful, this gets better every time we taste it. A serious choice for Xmas Day.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $32.99 pecial.

Clos St William Waipara Riesling 2009
A luscious, concentrated and powerful expression of medium styled Pinot Gris with nuance of rose petals, musk, and spice and baked pears. Harmonious in delivery, it mimics the wines we have tasted from Alsace.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $19.99 special.

D'Arenberg Noble Botrytinia F**kliana Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2010
Deep citrine gold with a viscous texture, the botrytis exudes through the aroma and flavour together with apricot, passionfruit and orange honey. A super syruppy wine with refreshing acidity cutting through the toffee-like sweetness, it's an decadent treat for Christmas Day. Gold Medal NZIWS.
8% alc. Screwcap. $25.99 special.

Giesen The Brothers Marlborough Pinot Noir 2010
Ruby garnet coloured with a moderately intense smoky, savoury aroma, it tastes of juicy black cherries, dried herbs and cakes spices. The tannins are smooth and velvety and the long finish is spicy and tangy.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $29.99 special.

Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz 2009
Vivid purple red with aromas of cedary oak, blueberries and cream that continue into the mouthfilling palate. It's soft textured with a savoury, leathery undercurrent, spice, black pepper and a sumptuous chocolate plum finish. Gold Medal NZIWS.
13.5% alc. Screwcap. $17.99 special.

Rocland Ass Kisser Barossa Shiraz 2009
Deep boysenberry red with a smoky aroma and rich, spicy flavours with chocolate and red berries. Smooth textured, juicy and long with lots of appeal – both in the taste and the fun factor of the label. Gold Medal NZIWS.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $15.99 special.

Two Hands Angel's Share McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010
A deep rich blueberry coloured blockbuster with fine tannins and spectacular purity and concentration of mulberry fruit balanced by dry extract and infused with allspice and chocolate cream biscuit. Bright-fruited, delicious and long.
14.6% alc. Screwcap. $34.99 pecial.

St Hallett Blackwell Barossa Valley Shiraz 2008
Impenetrably coloured and statuesque in structure, the juicy plum and blackcurrant fruit is tempered by cedary American oak and firm tannins that creep up on you. With vanilla, liquorice and black forest chocolate and fine acidity that flourishes at the end, this classy wine has definite cellaring potential.
14.5% alc. Screwcap. $36.99 special.

Delgado Zuleta Pedro Ximinez – Jerez, Spain
Kingsley amusingly calls this 'sump oil' because of its colour. Heady macerated raisin and golden syrup aromas infuse the thick, syruppy flavours with classic 'rancio' and a hokey pokey sweetness on the sumptuous finish. Christmas Pudding wine.
17.5% alc. Screwcap. $30.99.

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