New Zealand Wine Review – Cloudy Bay Pelorus (Methode Traditionelle)

Aroma: Croissants with butter and jam.

Color: Lemon yellow.

Body: Very light and even bubbles were large and quite unenthusiastic. A bit of a quiet Sunday on the motorway.

Taste: Sharp lemon and apple.

Cost: $29 from Karori Road Bottle Store

Quality rating: 2

Value rating: 2

Final words: A little disappointing. Expected more from this wine.

New Zealand Wine Review – Daniel Le Brun Methode Traditionelle 2008

Aroma: Fruit cake and brown sugar.

Color: Tawny gold.

Body: Light with streaming effervescent chains of small even bubbles.

Taste: Buttery and sweet like shortbread.

Cost: $39 from Karori Road Bottle Store

Quality rating: 3

Value rating: 3

Final words: Very lively, perfect for pre-dinner drinks on a sunny afternoon.

New Zealand Wine Review – Sacred Hill, Marlborough, Pinot Noir 2013

Aroma: Musty spiced cardamon and late season dark cherries.

Color: Rusty red.

Body: Thin and jagged.

Taste: Stringent and savory. Lean meat and zucchini. Braeburn apples and dark chocolate later.

Cost: $15.

Quality: 2.

Value: 4.

Final words: A pretty good quaffing wine.

New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborough, Pinot Noir 2011

Last night my other half decided to play a trick on me by decanting one of my beloved Dry River Pinot Noir's for a blind tasting. My first thought was that it was too young. I hoped it might blossom over drinking time but it didn't. All I got was straw and grass with just a few tantalizing hints of the deep complex flavors I love in these wines.

Aroma: Sharp, green vines, too young.

Color: Cherry red. Dark opaque.

Body: Slow and thick with rocky peaks.

Taste: Oak polish. Tart cranberry and almond .

Cost: $45-60 by mail order.

Quality rating: no rating.

Value rating: no rating.

Final words: Too soon to be drinking it.

New Zealand Wine Review – Craggy Range Gimblet Gravels Te Kahu, Hawke's Bay, Merlot/Cab Franc/Cab Sav/Malbec 2011

Aroma: Sugary sweet aroma of berries and marshmallow.

Color: Dark and dense magenta and purples.

Body: Medium bodied. Soft and round.

Taste: Front-of tongue. Cherries, walnuts and apples. Nutmeg and blackberries later.

Cost: $NZD24 from the Glengarrys.

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 4/5

Final words: Interesting and enjoyable for a good price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Mission Estate, Hawke's Bay, Gewurztraminer 2013

Food match: Turkey Sandwich on home-made bread.

Aroma: Fresh citrus and Grapefruit. Floral and lavender notes.

Color: Slightly murky and dull lemon yellow.

Body: Light-bodied but a bit cloying.

Taste: Initial flavors of olive oil, quite acidic and bitter. Became more delicate with floral blooms over drinking time.

Cost: $NZD14 from Pak 'n' Save Kilbirnie

Quality rating: 2/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: Pleasant enough for cheap drop. Made me think of clean sheets on the washing line.

New Zealand Wine Review - Rapara Springs, Central Otago, Pinot Noir 2011

Food match: Slow cooked chilli pork and cannellini beans with home made bread and sour cream.

Aroma: Great smell of fresh straw and raspberries with hints of spice.

Color: The color was excellent, clear and starry with ruby-red edges and a deep garnet middle.

Body: Light and clear like a Pinot Noir should be.

Taste: Initially sharp and refreshing flavours, cooling against the chilli pork. Cherry and raspberry and strong acidity on the middle-tongue.

Cost: $NZD23 from Pak 'n' Save Kilbirnie

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 4/5

Final words: A really good wine at a good price. Made me think of velvet curtains, warm quilts and swimming in Cancun. Would definitely buy it and drink it again.