New Zealand Wine Review – Babich, Hawke's Bay, Syrah, 2015

Aroma: grassy and acidic
Color: dark purple and garnet
Consistency: light and slender legs
Taste: sharp and grassy with chocolate minty tips
Cost: $NZ14
Quality rating: 6
Value rating: 8
Final words: bouncy and confronting but suprisingly enjoyable.

New Zealand Wine Review – The Admiral Reserve Estate, Central Otago, Pinot Noir, 2013

Aroma: woody and toasty coriander grass and bark potato chips
Color: Purple black, very dark, opaque
Consistency: a light round rim with no legs
Taste: font of mouth earth herbs, mushrooms and dark greens
Cost: $NZ 24
Quality rating: 7/10
Value rating: 8/10
Fnal words: Not a traditional Pinot Noir but I liked it a lot. Well worth the price and the calories

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Kairanga, Martinborough, Riesling, 2014

Aroma: Lots of oil and citrus
Color: Very light, translucent with olive hints
Consistency: A jagged but generally even fall
Taste: Sharp and fruity - deep and lively
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: Deceptively watery, wily and strong.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata, Hawke's Bay, Chardonnay, 2015

Aroma: Chloroform, straight and sleep
Color: brilliant yellow gold and diamonds, very flashy
Consistency: Slow and round but inaccuracies
Taste: smoke toast and sicks
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: love it

New Zealand Wine Review – Church Road, Hawke's Bay, Grand Reserve Chardonnay, 2014

Aroma: mild and oaky
Color: glossy lime gold, clear and glowing
Consistency: slow jagged hills
Taste: lime and pear with subtle oak
Cost: $NZ30
Quality rating: 7/10
Value rating 8/10
Final words: I was a little fluey when I tried this but even so found it remarkably pleasant and would definitely try it again

New Zealand Wine Review – The Regent of Tatallon, Hawke's Bay, Merlot/Cabernet limited edition, 2009

Aroma: Rust and tobacco. Metrosexual.
Color: tawny and dark autumnal russets, a little dull
Consistency: persistent hill, yawnful slow legs
Taste: surprisingly sweet, strong back of throat and tip of tongue, spicy plum
Cost: $NZ 25
Quality rating: 4/5
Final words: Pleasant enough but I think it's overpriced. The shopper in the family tells me I need to go to the wine shop more often.

New Zealand Wine Review – Alana Estate, Martinborough, Rapture Pinot Noir, 2010

Aroma: Strawberry and summer fruit
Color: light and shiny auburn
Consistency: quick legs with ghost hills
Taste: sweet and fruity but no guts - was better when it was younger
Cost: $NZ30ish (from the cellar)
Quality rating: 6/10
Final words: I remember loving this wine on a fine autumn day at the vineyard. Not so sweet anymore and lacks a bit of depth but a good wine and worth drinking.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata Awatea, Martinborough, Cabernet/Merlot, 2013

Aroma: scary berries and cherries - a hint of almond
Color: dark plum by red
Consistency: Fairly thiick and slow with holes
Taste: Tart apples and young plum, grassy and fresh, in a good way
Cost: $NZ 34
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating 7/10
Final words: great with steak a bit young but very nice.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata Estate, Hawke's Bay, Merlot Cabernet, 2014

Aroma: fresh grass and herb cuttings, dry grape leaves and licorice
Color: raspberry red, glossy and bloody, quite transparent
Consistency: slow, thin and even
Taste: meat tartin, nasal wasabi, salty
Cost: $NZ 30
Quality rating: 8/10
Value rating: 10/10
Final words: highly recommend

New Zealand Wine Review – Craggy Range Single Vineyard, Hawke's Bay, Syrah, 2013

Aroma: this is what I imagine Brad Pitt smells like. Savory, cummin spice, olive and tobacco.
Color: virulent crayon red, dense and not overly glossy.
Consistency: nice and even, quick evaporation
Taste: rich red spaghetti sauce with olives and chorizo spice. chilli bite.
Cost: $NZ30
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating 6/10
Final words: not very imaginative but solid and dependable.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata Awatea, Martinborough, Cabernet/Merlot, 2013

Aroma: scary berries and cherries - a hint of almond
Color: dark plum by red
Consistency: Fairly thiick and slow with holes
Taste: Tart apples and young plum, grassy and fresh, in a good way
Cost: $NZ 34
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating 7/10
Final words: great with steak a bit young but very nice.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Kairanga, Martinborough, Runholder Pinot Noir, 2013

Aroma: Soft and tart berry and spice
Color: rich garnets, clear wide and translucent at the edges
Consistency: Nice round ovals, slow moving
Taste: tart and lively on the tongue, strong acid should mellow but nice as is
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: looking forward to trying it again next year

New Zealand Wine Review – Pegasus Bay, Marlborough, Pinot Noir, 2012

Aroma: strong tobacco and gentle spice
Color: translucent and tawny with dark rings
Consistency: nice and even quick evaporation
Taste: blackberry tart tobaccos and earthy spice
Cost: $NZ 34
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 5/10
Final words: Not spectacular but nice enough should get better with age

New Zealand Wine Review – Elephant Hill, Hawke's Bay, Syrah, 2013

Aroma: Full fruit and spice, Hot Cross Buns and Christmas Cake
Color: Opaque, black cherry
Consistency: Very smooth and slow, Barry White
Taste: Suprisingly fresh hints of pine, top front of mouth and back of throat, flavours hard to define, woody with berry notes
Cost: $NZ 31
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: Probably needs more time to reach full potential based on aroma

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Kairanga, Martinborough, Chardonnay, 2014

Aroma: olive oil, savory and nutty
Color: vibrant and shiny golden yellow
Consistency: expansive, cloudy and thick
Taste: smoky and tart. quite cheesy but still obviously Chardonnay.
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 6
Final words: I liked it. Not your typical Chardonnay.

New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2009

Aroma: Peppery, cranberry and red currant
Color: Royal purple, blackberry red
Consistency: Round hills and fat legs
Taste: Pepper and green olives
Cost: $NZ From the cellar
Quality rating: 8
Final words: Deceptively pure and simple perfection.

New Zealand Wine Review – Gibbston Valley, Gold River Chardonnay, 2012

Aroma: Mild, soapy umami
Color: dark lemon yellow, quite vibrant and clean
Consistency: jagged columns and even pattern but rough
Taste: fragrant nectarine, back of mouth smooth but fiery
Cost: $NZ17
Value rating: 7/10
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: A good price and a pleasant wine that isn't too toasty like many Chardonnay

New Zealand Wine Review – Wooing Tree Beetlejuice, Central Otago, Pinot Noir, 2014

Aroma: Tobacco and savory herbs
Color: Vibrant and rich, tawny red
Consistency: Slow and sticky with a jagged rim
Taste: Front and back of mouth. Wasabi, cherry and leather.
Cost: $NZ 27
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating 8/10
Final words: A perfect match for red meat. Soft and sassy. A single-vineyard wine from Cromwell named for the endangered Cromwell Chafer beetle.

New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2009

Aroma: peppery cranberry and red currant
Color: royal purple, blackberry red
Consistency: round hills with stout legs
Taste: pepper and green olives, deceptively pure and simple
Cost: from the cellar
Quality rating: 8/10
Final words: perfection, any one who doesn't rate this is a moron

New Zealand Wine Review – Selaks Reserve, Hawke's Bay, Pinot Gris, 2015

Aroma: Green apple and olives
Color: Quite dark, yellow and grey
Consistency: Steady and slow
Taste: Sour olive martini mid palette with metallic aftertaste
Cost: $NZ11.99
Quality rating: 2
Value rating: 5/10
Final words: Ask yourself "Is it worth the calories?"

New Zealand Wine Review – Pencarrow, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2014

Aroma: Herbaceous and complex with savory vanilla and early season cherry and plum
Color: Intense strawberry red
Consistency: Quick legs and evaporation
Taste: Tart plums, vigorous top palette, sharp and tasty
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 7/10
Final words: 7//10

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata, Hawke's Bay, Chardonnay, 2014

Aroma: oak, figs, fish and lives, complicated and I'm not sure it was all that pleasant
Color: light and watery and a little dull
Consistency: very light with long legs
Taste: sour oak and umami
Cost: gift
Quality rating: hard to say this is a good vineyard and it might need more time
Value rating: gift
Final words: this was one of those gifts I think I could have done without

New Zealand Wine Review – Rod McDonald, Hawke's Bay, Syrah, 2011

Aroma: sharp wasabi and pine
Color: black doris royal purple glossy eyed
Consistency: instant evaporation, light and easy
Taste: front and top paleete, caustic in a good way. Vibrant grassy new vines with a strong opinion. Tart winter fruit.
Cost: $NZ 75
Quality rating: 8/10
Value rating: 8/10
Final words: love it. want more.

New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborough, Syrah, 2008

Aroma: Heavy plum and winter vegetables
Color: Deep Purple.  very dark no translusvence
Consistency: non existent
Taste: heady plums and chilli complex stock roast duck cherries
Cost: from the cellar
Quality rating: 8/10
Final words: worth whatever we paid

New Zealand Wine Review – Triplebank Awatere Valley, Marlborough, Pinot Gris, 2015

Aroma: musk and perfume, apricots and violet
Color: pale straw with lime tips
Consistency: jagged and long lasting, evaporates rather than runs
Taste: smooth on tongue, musky and floral
Cost: $NZ 16
Quality rating: 5/10
Value rating: 5/10
Final words: pleasant but not dazzline

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Kairanga, Martinborough, Riesling, 2014

Aroma: Fragrant summer lemins
Color: Silvery and watery
Consistency: Light and even
Taste: Back of the throat bite. Musty tartness.
Cost: $NZ
Quality rating: 3/10
Final words: Not crisp enough. Slightly manky flavours.

New Zealand Wine Review – Palliser Estate, Martinborough, The Great Hector Pinot Noir, 2013

Aroma: Plum and cherry and spice. Confident.
Color: Strong, dark and handsome. Almost black. Big eyes.
Consistency: Smooth. Like the endless horizon on a scorching hot day.
Taste: Succulent plum fruits and cherries Rich and indulgent.
Cost: $NZ 90
Quality rating: 8/10
Value rating: 8/10
Final words: A great wine for special occasions it will be interesting to see how it ages.

New Zealand Wine Review – Cloudy Bay, Marlborough, Pelorus Brut

Bubbles: Enthusiastic if somewhat chaotic.
Aroma: Sweet sugary yesat. Lime, chamomile and rose.
Color: Light gold with orange tips.
Consistency: Quick evaporation and thick upper film.
Taste: Yeast and green apple. Unsweetened cranberry.
Cost: $NZ 28
Quality rating: 6
Value rating: 8
Final words: A very nice bit of bubbles for the price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Crossroads, Hawke's Bay, Milestone Series Chardonnay, 2014

Aroma: Sweet for a chardonnary. Peaches, vanilla and melon.
Color: Pale and grassy. A little dull.
Consistency: Jagged mountains. Thin and persistent.
Taste: Strong acid. Sour limes. Olives. Coconut hints.
Cost: $NZ 16
Quality rating: 3
Value rating: 5
Final words: Not my thing.

New Zealand Wine Review – Allan Scott, Marlborough, Pinot Noir, 2014

Aroma: Ticklish spices. Berries, burnt butter and brown sugar.
Color: Bright and clear red.
Consistency: Light and even. No legs. Evaporates.
Taste: Peppery. Warm and buttery. Creamy mushrooms. Red onion. Hidden complexity.
Cost: $NZ 25
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: Very credible. Smooth and elegant.

New Zealand Wine Review – Shaky Bridge Pioneer Series, Central Otago, Pinot Noir 2012

Food match: Pan-fried New Zealand beef fillet steak with oven baked chips, salad and a red wine reduction.

Aroma: Not highly aromatic on first opening. Scent was toasty and smoky.

Color: Dark purple, almost mauve. Opaque with little shine.

Body: Medium to light bodied. Quite thick.

Taste: Sharp and fresh flavours of apples or young cherries and blackberries. Slight diesel factor. Nutty after-taste.

Cost: $NZD20 from the cellar.

Quality rating: 2.5/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: Would try again. Not a great match for the steak.

New Zealand Wine Review – St Clair, Marlborough, Chardonnay, 2013

Aroma: Sweet and peachy.

Color: Watery and dull with slightly fluorescent greenish tinge.

Consistency: Very light and watery.

Taste: Acrid, green apples. Top back of mouth. Like hard dry raisins.

Cost: $16

Quality rating: 2

Value rating: 1.5

Final words: Not for me. 

New Zealand Wine Review – Pukeora Estate, Hawke's Bay, Merlot, 2010

Aroma: Spice woody, cedar and vanilla.
Color: Ruby red and very clear.
Consistency: Jagged tors. Moving quickly.
Taste: Medium bodied mouth filler. Blackberries and wood smoke.
Cost: Gift
Quality rating: 3/5
Value rating: 10/10 - a freebie!
Final words: A very nice aged merlot.

New Zealand Wine Review – Esk Valley, Gimlet Graves Hawke's Bay, Merlot Cab Sav Malbec, 2014

Aroma: Plums and winter fruits.
Color: Deep rich opaque purple.
Consistency: Surprisingly light.
Taste: Chemical tobacco. savory spice.
Cost: $NZD15
Quality rating: 5/10
Value rating: 7/10.
Final words: A serious heavy drinking wine.

New Zealand Wine Review - Brancott Estate, Brut Cuvee

Aroma: Ripe pears and dried figs.
Colour: Rich golden yellow with rosy tips.
Bubbles: Fast and furious. Quick to fizzle out.
Taste: Deep flavours. Pears. Figs. Nuts.
Quality rating: 4/10
Price: $13
Value rating: 8/10
Final words:  Surprisingly complex and satisfying at a very good price.

New Zealand Wine Review – Dry River, Martinborough, Riesling, 2010

Aroma: Complex floral and pear.
Color: Glassy lemon and grey. Owl eyes.
Consistency: Glossy and even with quick evaporation.
Taste: Strong umani. Complex. Sour notes and astringent citrus.
Cost: From cellar.
Quality rating: 7
Final words: I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected. Possibly may be a little passed it. Think I still have another.

New Zealand Wine Review – Vidal, Marlborough, Riesling, 2014

Aroma: Lemons and olives. Herbaceous.
Color: Orange and green highlights.
Consistency: Rough and rocky.
Taste: Lemon, lime and peach.
Cost: $NZ 15
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: A pleasant quaffing wine. Uncomplicated.

New Zealand Wine Review – Pencarrow, Martinborough, Chardonnay, 2015

Aroma: Burnt Toast and italian herbs.
Color: Green hints. Virulent. A little foggy.
Consistency: Fast and Jagged.
Taste: Full bodied and sharp. Ripe fruit. Pear. Avocado. Lime.
Cost: $NZ17
Quality rating: 5/10
Final words: Not usually a Chardonnay fan. This had classic flavours. I liked it.

New Zealand Wine Review – Villa Maria, Gisborne, Voigner, 2015

Aroma: Intense fruit. Pear and green fig. Lemongrass. Thyme and herbs. Became more grassy over time.
Color: Very pale grassy with translucent yellow cat eyes.
Consistency: Smooth, long lasting rim.
Taste: Grass and herb. Pears and lime. Sweet and savory. Mandarins. Some sour notes.
Cost: $NZ 13
Quality rating:3
Value rating: 8
Final words: Good value quaffing wine.

New Zealand Wine Review – Tohu, Marlborough, Pinot Gris, 2014

Aroma: Lime and sweet floral.  Rose.
Color: Pale gold, very clear.
Consistency: Slow even legs.
Taste: Sweet lime. Floral notes. Simple.
Cost: $NZD14
Quality rating: 3/10
Value rating: 6/10
Final words: Pleasant enough but nothing special.

New Zealand Wine Review – Martinborough Vineyard, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2011

Aroma: Pungent. Cherries and nuts. Christmas.
Color: Watery. Pink and light. Slightly murky.
Consistency: Smooth. occasional legs.
Taste: Tart Gooseberries at first. Warmed to dark savory cherries.
Cost: $65
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 4/10
Final words: Might be passed it's best.

New Zealand Wine Review – Natural Wine Co, Gisborne, Natural Pinot Noir, 2015

Aroma: Chocolate and spice. All things nice!
Color: Tawny and rough red.
Consistency: Even rim that lasts forever. Almost legless.
Taste: Green peppers. Cedar. Spice and a little bit of sweat.
Cost: $16.00
Quality rating: 5/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: No need to feel virtuous. This well worth the money.

New Zealand Wine Review – Natural Wine Co, Gisborne, Pinot Noir, 2015 (2nd tasting)

Aroma: Cherry, raspberry and lamb.
Color: Light and clear raspberry red.
Consistency: A faint film with slow movement and lots of residue.
Taste: Tobacco and spice. Savory lamb and tarragon.
Cost: $NZ16
Quality rating: 4/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: I still really like this clean fresh tasting Pinot.

New Zealand Wine Review - Allan Scott Family Winemakers, Marlborough, Pinot Gris, 2015

Aroma: Slightly chemical. Maybe cabbage or wet dog.
Colour: Just a hint of yellow. Very watery.
Consistency: Quite even and quick moving.
Taste: Metallic aftertaste. Lots on top of mouth.
Price: $14
Quality rating: 3/10
Value rating: 5/10
Final words: Not to my taste. Too sour.

New Zealand Wine Review – Poppies, Martinborough, Pinot Noir, 2012 (3rd tasting)

Aroma: Delicate. Berries and herbs with late spcie. Cinnamon and clove. Wild blackberry.
Color: Dark and tawny with bloodshot circles.
Consistency: Soft ridegs. Very light.
Taste: Subtle chilli and berry. Savory bean and stewed meats. Complex and interesting.
Cost: $NZ35 (approx cellar door)
Quality rating: 5/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: There are cheaper wines to be had for equal enjoyment. That said this is a very satifying and complex wine. Tartrate crystals at bottom of this bottle. We still have more.

New Zealand Wine Review – Te Mata Estate, Hawke's Bay, Gamay Noir, 2014

Aroma: Mild tea and tobacco.
Color: Dark rubies, quite light.
Consistency: Barely there. Evaporates very quickly.
Taste: Spicy with a back of the throat warmth.
Cost: $18.00
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 6/10
Final words: A bit mild for our taste.

New Zealand Wine Review – Allan Scott Family Winemakers, Marlborough, Pinot Gris, 2015

Aroma: Light honey and summer fruits
Color: Apricot hues
Consistency: Fussy slow and suprisingly thick
Taste: A little sugar and a soapy aftertaste
Cost: $17NZ
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 7/10
Final words: Probably a nice wine and a good price, but I didn't like it much.

New Zealand Wine Review – Gibbston Valley, Central Otago, Pinot Noir, 2013

Aroma: Blackberry, vanilla and tea.
Color: Rich and royal purple.
Consistency: Jagged and fast. Not overly thick.
Taste: Fresh aniseed, fennel and berries. Tart and yogurty.
Cost: $45.00
Value rating: 2/10
Final words: This is a very nice wine and still young. Cheaper drop to be had.

New Zealand Wine Review – Matawhero, Gisborne, Gewurtztraminer, 2015

Aroma: Faint and floral.
Color: Pale and clear, shiny and bright.
Consistency: An even rim with large hole beneath.
Taste: Soapy, waxy, geraniums.
Cost: $NZD20
Quality rating: 6/10
Value rating: 5/10
Final words: Prim and restrained, refined even. Not my sort of thing but others might like it.

New Zealand Wine Review – Esk Valley, Hawke's Bay, Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec 2012

Food match: Seafood Chowder and home-made bread.

Aroma: This wine smelt of cherries, plums and candle wax.

Color: Gothic red-black, crimson. Very intense. Good clarity and glow. Like a skrying pool.

Body: Heavy bodied and viscous. Soft and pillowy.

Taste: Sweet and beefy, chilli plums and sun-dried tomatoes. Sharp back of tongue bitterness.

Cost: $NZD40 from the cellar.

Quality rating: 3/5

Value rating: 3/5

Final words: A good, interesting wine at a reasonable price.