This outstanding Malbec is made from grapes grown high altitude vineyards in Mendoza, which were fermented with wild yeasts for 12 days with post ferment maceration for 19-22 days followed by 12 months aging in barrel, including first, second and third use barrels. It tastes smooth, dark, full bodied, fleshy, succulent and complex… An incredible red wine.

Argentina’s signature grape, Malbec, was introduced to the country’s biggest wine region, Mendoza, by Frenchman Michel Pouget in the mid 1850s, but it has since been discovered that not all Malbec vines brought into the country were exactly the same. And the family that has done more to advance the understanding, high quality expression and understanding of Argentinian Malbec is the Catena family, whose Zapata Malbec is one of our favourite wines in store; big, bold and full bodied but with elegance to burn, thanks to its silkiness. 

The Catena family has arguably done more for the quality and reputation of both Malbec and the Argentinian wine industry than any other company, advancing the understanding of growing grapes at altitude, high up in the foothills of the Andes where hot days, high sunshine hours and cool nights ripen the grapes and retain elegance.

This so-called “Sardinian Sassicaia” is made by the same people who brought us the legendary Tuscan red wine. 60% Carignano, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 10% Syrah. This is a rich, intensely aromatic red with dark-fruit flavours and a full body. Super Sardinian anyone?

Dry and deliciously good Kiwi roses don't get this good very often. If you notice Whitehaven Rose is paler pink than previously, it is and this wine also happens to be the driest style ever made, with under one gram of residual sugar per litre. It's made from earlier picked Pinot Noir grapes to retain fresh acidity. Minimum skin contact time provides a pale colour a lively red fruit flavours with a long finish.

The story of Whitehaven Wines

Whitehaven Wines began life in 1994 as a romantic business for a couple of corporate escapees, Sue and Greg White, who had given up life in the rat race of Auckland for another kind of life aboard their yacht. When sailing around the country, they took shelter in the Marlborough Sounds from Pacific storms and fell in love with the region. An easy thing to do when harbouring in the spectacularly pristine waters of the Sounds. They decided to settle there on terra firma once more and try their hands at wine production, hiring a winemaker and beginning a business which has now been around for 26 years. Greg has sadly passed away now, leaving a legacy as well as his wife and daughter, Sam, to run the winery.

Their winemaker is Peter Jackson.

Fresh, fruit driven Sauvignon Blanc is dry with lively acidity, a light body and intense flavours including tropical passionfruit notes typical of many Marlborough Sauvignon Blancs and also incorporating herbaceous flavours. It's the winner of a huge number of awards including the following:

2020 Concours Mondial Du Sauvignon: Gold

2020 Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards: Double Gold

2020 Toast to The Coast: Double Gold

Michael Franz, US: 92 Points

Cameron Douglas, NZ - 90/100 Points

Joe Czerwinski for Robert Parker, US - 90/100 Points

Whitehaven Wines began life in 1994 as a romantic business for a couple of corporate escapees, Sue and Greg White, who had given up life in the rat race of Auckland for another kind of life aboard their yacht. When sailing around the country, they took shelter in the Marlborough Sounds from Pacific storms and fell in love with the region. An easy thing to do when harbouring in the spectacularly pristine waters of the Sounds. They decided to settle there on terra firma once more and try their hands at wine production, hiring a winemaker and beginning a business which has now been around for 26 years. Greg has sadly passed away now, leaving a legacy as well as his wife and daughter, Sam, to run the winery. Their winemaker is Peter Jackson.

Thedelicious tang of Umeshu comes from citric acid in the fruit, and the refreshing flavour stimulates the appetite. Umeshu also contains malic and succinic acids. The addition of alcohol to the fruit during production means that the ume flavour can be extracted not only from the flesh and skin but also from the stone. It is this process which gives CHOYA Umeshu its unique fruity bouquet, with notes of almond and marzipan. Source: www.choya.com 

Savoury dried herbs and earthy notes lead into this impressively structured Pinot Noir from the Gibbston Valley, the last region typically to harvest its grapes each year in Central Otago. This cool climate is expressed in this wine in the high acidity and dried herb notes, which add depth and complexity to the weighty red plum notes and lovely full body. An impressive wine from a very good vintage and likely to shine in 10 years' time - if it lasts that long. 

Released and on the market now. Ageing time: potentially 10 to 11 years+.

The four Valli Pinot Noirs

The four sub regions that winemaker Grant Taylor makes Pinot Noir from each year encompass widely varying landscapes, soil types and climates from the maritime influenced weather in the Waitaki Valley Vineyard on the ironically named Grant's Road; a site that Grant Taylor owns, through to the semi continental climates of Gibbston, Bannockburn and Bendigo. 

Bendigo

Valli Bendigo Pinot Noir is made from grapes grown on the Chinaman's Terrace Vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago. This elevated vineyard was planted in 2005 between 314 metres and 374 metres above sea level with five different Pinot Noir clones; Abel, 115, UCD5, 667 and 777. The soils are shallow sandy loams with a high clay content and also include a small lower section with gravel soils.  Bendigo has a semi continental, arid climate. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Bannockburn

Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on the Hall Vineyard, which was planted in 2000 in Bannockburn at 350 metres above sea level. This area has a semi continental climate. It is planted with six different clones of Pinot Noir; namely, 777, 115, 10/5, UCD5, 113 and 13. The soils here are wind blown loess over schist bedrock. They are deep, moderately sandy and free draining. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Gibbston Valley

Valli Gibbston Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on the Gibbston Highway, which were planted between 1999 and 2000 at between 343 and 351 metres above sea level. The Pinot Noir clones on this site are 777, 115, UCD5 and 114. Soils are alluvial loess which ranges from 0.5 to 1 metre deep over firm river gravels.

Rainfall is lower here than in Bannockburn and Bendigo. The climate is considered semi continental. The vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

Waitaki Valley

Valli Waitaki Pinot Noir is made with grapes grown on Grant's Road in the Waitaki Valley, a maritime influenced climate planted between 2004 and 2005 at 200 metres above sea level on limestone based soils. River gravels also make up some of the soil type here and vines are cane pruned and grow on a vertical shoot positioning (VSP) trellis.

A complex wine with red fruit flavours. Big, elegant and ripe tannin structures. Will over time show more secondary and forest floor characteristics.

Trinity Hill - The structure has a tight shape with the finesse and concentration that are hallmarks of Trinity Hill Chardonnay. It displays delicacy but richness and the beautifully linear acidity makes it a fantastic match with food.

An excellent partner with white meats and seafood dishes.

Pegasus Bay has an excitingly diverse, if sometimes surprising, array of different grapes growing in its vineyards in the Waipara Valley, the heart of North Canterbury, many of which were planted to see what would fit. And thanks to the long dry autumn growing season, quite a number of different grapes can ripen fully here. This enables varieties such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc and even Cabernet Sauvignon to ripen and produce wines such as this full bodied, juicy, age worthy red. If climate change continues, who knows what we will see coming from this stellar, family owned wine producer.

This wine drinks well now and can age and improve for the next five to seven years. 

Real traditional plum palinka, aged in mullberry barrels, made of nemtudom, besztercei, president, elena types of plum from Szatmar. High degree of purity, pleasently fruits nobile drink. The palinka is distilled from strictly picked and selected, mature, juicy fruits, among kosher cicumstances, in which aroma and taste you will find the special aroma of the mature plum.

A winner in so many ways from its dry, full bodied, zing to its outstanding freshness - this wine is released regularly as a freshly disgorged bottle of bubbles that pays homage to both Maori language with its lovely name; MiruMiru is Maori for bubbles, and also to French winemaking tradition. This blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier is made the same way as champagne. It spends 12 to 18 months on yeast lees and is freshly disgorged to retain its complexity and zing.  

Hunter's MiruMiru won top prize for New Zealand wines at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships for the third year in a row in 2023.

For centuries, bison grass has been used to create a unique flavoured vodka, Zubrowka.  The infusion adds smoothness and unparalled fresheness to the original singular spirit from Poland.

You can create mixed drinks with a sophisticated, contemporary flair with this worldwide favorite. Enjoy this smooth and mellow Bourbon with its long and soft finish. Savor its unique aromas and flavors in your favorite Bourbon cocktail, on the rocks, or with a splash.

TASTING NOTES

Nose: Pear and light fruitiness, floral, gentle spice, honey.
Palate: Crisp, yet soft & smooth, fresh fruit, hints of apple.
Finish: Soft & smooth.

One of our favourite under $25 Pinot Noirs in store with its medium body and beautiful ripe red fruit aromas, earthy depth of flavour and impressive tannic structure thanks to Martinborough's dry, windy climate. This wine is good value and a clean, fresh style of Pinot.Luna Estate makes three Pinot Noirs, two single vineyards called Eclipse and Luna and this lovely refreshing estate blend. 

Hillside frost-free site planted over limestone and clay. The oldest Pinot Noir block was planted in 1986 and is still on its own roots, Able clone. Distinct from the Eclipse vineyard because of vastly different geology with the clays that deliver rich, velvety texture. This is perhaps a more approachable wine than Eclipse, but still with elegance and underlying power.

Appearance – Dark ruby, youthful

Bouquet – Immediately pretty and floral, lifted red fruits combine with fine oak and earth/spice aromas. Very complex and seductive.

Palate – Power with elegance. Palate is packed with layers of fruit and spice. Super fine tannins flow alongside balanced acidity delivering long richly textured finish.  

Source - Luna Estate