Hawkes Bay

Seven Springs Unoaked Chardonnay 2014, Overberg, South Africa (~£12 contact North South Wines) There’s a slightly bitter pithy edge and a lemony character here that reminds me as much of Semillon as Chardonnay. It’s still fresh and juicy, but it’s too rich to fall into the ‘pure’ camp and too […]

Chardonnays from South Africa & New Zealand

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Trivento Shiraz Reserve 2015, Mendoza, Argentina (£8.00 Tesco) I like the freshness and the red berry character, and I don’t mind the imprint of toasty vanilla-ish oak, but I’d have preferred a little less jamminess. OK, but not fine. B- Elephant Hill Syrah 2013, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (£18.90 Field […]

Syrah – or is Shiraz? – from Argentina and New ...

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Te Mata Gamay Noir 2015, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (£17.99 Harvey Nichols, Fenwick’s, Hailsham Cellars, S H Jones, Lancaster Wine Company, Bacchanalia, The Square Wine Company, Eagle’s Wines, New Zealand Wine Cellar, The Wine Society, Drink Shop) Joyful, youthful style, quite pale in colour but packed with crunchy ever-so-slightly candied […]

Te Mata Gamay Noir 2015, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

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Esk Valley Syrah 2011, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£17.15 Barrica Wines, Famous Wine UK, Hoults Wine Merchants, North and South Wines, DeFINE Food and Wine, Wright Wine Company, The Drinkshop.com, The New Zealand House of Wine) Quite pale in colour, light to medium body, has the classic peppery clove, blackcurrant […]

Two Hawkes Bay Syrahs

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The last of the catch-up-on-tasting-notes posts (see intro HERE if that doesn’t make sense) Blind Spot Chardonnay 2014, Yarra Valley, Australia (£7.95 The Wine Society) Dry, crisp, tangy young wine, lots of taut apple and lemon flavours balanced by leesy richness, pure and clean, but not lacking depth, brilliant value. S- […]

Five Chardonnays from Australia, New Zealand & France

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