New Zealand


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


Calmel & Joseph Villa Blanche Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Pays d’Oc, France (£8.95-£9.36 Viader Wines, Richard Granger Wines) Combines a ripe element – fleshy plum and guava – with a crisper, stonier citrus side: initially they sit apart but after a few minutes, they get together to make tuneful although not […]

Sauvignon Blanc from France & New Zealand


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



Domaine de l’Ermitage Menetou-Salon Blanc 2014, Loire, France (£12.95 From Vineyards Direct) Really grown-up style of Sauvignon, fruity with lemon, apple and greengage to the fore, but also herby/earthy restraint, and keen sappy bite to the finish. S- Aotea Sauvignon Blanc 2014, Nelson, New Zealand (£15 Flagship Wines, Aged in […]

Sauvignon Blanc: the Loire & Nelson


I’ve started doing some tastings with Artisan Bar & Kitchen in Manchester, and there are a couple coming up on October 13th. We’ll be looking at New Zealand wines – red, white and sparkling, but not a Sauvignon Blanc in sight… Plus a hearty deli platter to nibble on between the wines. Click […]

New! Tastings at Artisan Bar & Kitchen, Manchester


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