by the bottle 35 views ♡

We've been loving different producer's iterations of Chenin Blanc from the organic Two Terraces vineyard in Hawkes Bay. This one leans into a rich but dry style very comfortably. There's plenty of flavour - florals, peach, kiwifruit, lime, wet stone and a gingery spice. It's beautifully weighted and...

Amy from Amoise nails it when she calls this her "fruit salad of a wine". It's all juicy passionfruit and stone fruit, but just before it gets too 'Just Juice' it finishes dry with a fresh, racy finish, sending you back for more. We love what's going on at the Two Terraces vineyard in Hawkes Bay, an...

Dave is taking kiwi Albariño up a notch here. It still has those 'sunshine in a bottle' aromatics, but it's richly textured, finishing with a pithy, stern and dry finish. Fruit from the Two Terraces vineyard was given 72 hours skin contact, pressed into old puncheons, and allowed to go through full...

We’re seeing some outstanding Chenin Blanc coming off the Two Terraces estate in Hawkes Bay, a vineyard that has also just gained Biogro organic certification. Amy’s Chenin is certainly one of them, and it's gained quite the following. It’s rich in fruit, with green apple and tropical notes, w...

We’re loving the different iterations of Chenin Blanc from the Hawke’s Bay Two Terraces vineyard. This one delivers in spades. It’s exuberant in peach, pineapple, honey and camomile aromatics. It’s richly textured and supple with a pithy, fresh finish. The fruit was handpicked, footstomped a...

This unfolds beautifully in the glass, and we highly recommend sitting on it for few hours. It's immediately fruitful, vibrant and supple. As it opens up, so does some weight in the palate, a mineral drive and a brambly complexity. Rather than competing, Gamay and Pinot Noir seem to compliment each ...

Starting Amoise in Hawkes Bay in 2018, Amy Farnsworth sources fruit from organic vineyards, producing expressive natural wines. They offer immediate drinking pleasure, with plenty to contemplate in the glass. As well as having incredible passion and enthusiasm, Amy’s depth of experience is amazing...

This pinot is a great example of the exciting new wave of wines coming out of Marlborough. It ticks every box as far as thoughtful quaffers go. It’s certified organic, with no additives, has bright, vibrant fruit, structure and it’s moorish. Its a great combo with a cheesy eggplant lasagne, or s...

Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and it’s an appropriate name for this outstanding value white from the legends at Millton. A blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc, varieties the estate has excelled at producing for decades, fruit character shines bright. Citrus, stone fruit with a he...

If you want to experience quintessential, great quality Chablis, this is your wine. It’ll leave you with an understanding of why the lean Chardonnays of this region are so highly regarded. This classic expression has minerality, elegance and tension. Gilbert Picq has long been an undervalued gem i...

Beautifully elegant Marlborough Pinot Noir that's both fine and generous. There's purity of fruit with detailed structure. We've noticed that Marlborough Pinot Noir grown on the clay hills in particular, expresses real depth and complexity that definately gives other kiwi Pinot regions a run for the...

Sometimes all the world wants from Pinot Grigio, is a crisp, dry, thoughtlessly refreshing glass of white wine. Mont’Albana have nailed that, and with a pleasurable amount of texture. This is organic and low maintenance - and it won’t be adverse to you throwing a few ice cubes in it.Mont’Alban...

Organic reds don't get much better value than this. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Caladoc (an obscure variety of Grenache and Malbec), this is bright fruited, crunchy with a satisfying dryness.Four generations of the Long family have been grape growing in the north east of Vaucluse in the southern ...

Drinking this makes us think of sitting in a smokey bar, eating apple pie and drinking scotch. It’s a special sensory experience. Ilegal's Anejo is made from 100% Espadin which spends 13 months in a combination of American and French oak barrels. Its super smooth and continues to be a benchmark Me...

The Artesanal Añejo Suave has a smooth opulent palate with dried tropical fruit and sweet nutty flavours along with a fine spiced, peppery finish. It's made from 100% estate grown lowland agave which is roasted for 48 hours, double distilled and then aged for 20 months in ex bourbon barrels.From ha...

Bonete Raicilla Costa is a blend of 60% Angustifolia Haw and 40% Rhodacantha, These agave are roasted underground and then distilled twice in wooden stills carved from the sacred Oyamel tree, hence the front label. This Raicilla is savoury with olive brine aromas and smoky BBQ flavours.Raicilla is a...

Alipús Mezcal originated in 1999 as a ‘social impact project’ that sought to support traditional producers and their lands in a number of regions.Don Cosme Hernandez and his son Cirilo make the Alipús San Baltazar mezcal. They live in the high altitude town of San Baltazar Guelavila. Using Esp...

San Andres is a floral mezcal with an alluring lick of caramel which is backed up with the hallmark roasted smokey flavours.Alipús Mezcal originated in 1999 as a ‘social impact project’ that sought to support traditional producers and their lands in a number of regions.Do whatever you wish with...

A superb classic blanco tequila with citrus and herbaceous flavours. Affordable, delicious, and easy to mix your best margarita with.From having legendary master distiller Eduardo Orendain in the saddle, to using 100% estate grown blue weber Agave, everything about this is quality focused. Even their name comes from that of an olympic gold medal winning equestrian horse.

A slightly paired back version of the quintessential Marlborough Sauvignon. This refreshingly, light white wine is certified organic with a great price tag.

The team at Clos Henri take Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc to the next level, in terms of refinement and expression of place. Their Otira Sauvignon Blanc comes from vines grown on free draining glacial stones. It has aromatics of elderflower and ripe yellow fruits, with a great mineral persistence.Clos...

We’ve tasted this wine over the years, and this release is the most elegant and composed we’ve tried. It’s got depth and complexity that surpasses your usual Marlborough Savvie B, with flavours of tropical fruit, lemon meringue, and a savoury undertone. It’s got texture too, that stays in st...