Section 94 is one of New Zealand great white wines, made from a small portion of vineyard land that was named Section 94 on the country's original lands and survey map. It's the brainchild of the highly experienced viticulturist-winemaking duo, Ivan Sutherland (one time Olympic medal winning rower) and James Healy, the grapes are 100% barrel fermented in new French oak followed by aging in oak. Complex, great and long lived maverick wine.

Layers of depth with nutty aromas and full bodied with dry flavours. Drinks well on release and can also age, as this example shows. It is 100% Sauvignon Blanc but is not labelled with the varietal as Sutherland and Healy want to highlight what's possible from the land first and foremost.

Amrut Fusion X (ten), a special, limited-edition single malt whisky was launched on the November 25 in honour of the 10th anniversary of Amrut Distilleries. Amrut whiskies are a connoisseur’s delight. Especially for the discerning patron is the Amrut Fusion X. The Fusion whisky has been matured in sherry casks imported from Spain, for four years. While the base remains the familiar Fusion, its treatment gives whisky lovers a whole new flavour profile to enjoy. On the first sip, the whisky gives you marzipan, vanilla, and citrus on the palate, followed by peat that comes through and lingers on. I sampled it neat and a little later with a cube of ice and enjoyed the lingering peat flavours. 

Amrut Fusion X is a collectable. It is a very limited bottling of 1010 bottles released internationally.

Clear amber, shiny, clean and transparent with a soft and balanced aroma. Flavours of light ageing, with slight sweetness. Notes of sugarcane combined with woody notes, along with almonds, vanilla, grapes and dried plums.

The Vasse Felix Filius Chardonnay is pale straw with a green tinge in the glass. The nose is lifted, elegant and complex with honey nougat, pineapple and lemon notes. The palate is restrained and complex with some creaminess coupled with natural acidity. Notes of lemon pith with hints of lime and toasty vanilla carry on to a long, dry finish.

Good value and delicious flavours are the name of the Cote du Rhone game and this southern French red over delivers, big time. It's a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. All grapes were fully destemmed and fermentation took place in temperature controlled concrete tanks, with 25 days of maceration. Gentle pumping over followed by maturation in concrete tank defines the traditional vinification of this lovely, lively, fleshy dry red. Great buying.

The Cover Drive is named after the Penola cricket ground on the southern boundary of Coonawarra in South Australia. This famous cricket ground was retired in 1996 and Jim Barry bought the land to plant with grapes. This full bodied, dark and smooth red wine is the result. It's earthy, smooth and has complex flavours of black olives, dried herbs and bold blackcurrant notes. It drinks well when young and can also age for four to five years, evolving interesting savoury notes as it does. 

Hans and Therese Herzog winery established their winery in Marlborough in 1994 and have since gone on to produce some of the region's most diverse, high quality, small volume wines, including this blend of 50% Viognier, 30% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne, which were fully fermented to dryness in this spicy, peachy, full bodied white. This wine is modelled on the great whites of the northern Rhone in France and the wine takes its name for that region's famous Mistral wind which blows through the valley. 

Extended skin contact and cold maceration provide the colour intensity and flavour in this wine. The Marsanne and Roussanne were fermented together with wild yeasts in 500 litre puncheons then blended with the Viognier and aged in 500 litre French oak puncheons for 18 months. 

The finished wine was bottled without fining or filtration, so is vegan friendly.

Grapes: Monastrell (Mourvèdre), Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah

93/100 Wine Spectator

“Bright cherry, berry and currant flavours mingle with liquorice, black tea and mineral notes, giving way to a floral and minerally finish. The firm tannins are well-integrated and juicy acidity keeps this lively.” 

Tasting Note: Intense cherry-red colour with violet shades. Delicate black fruit aroma with high roast and smoky features. Structured, subtle and smart palate, ripe appetising and a sweet tannins marked by elegance.

Winemaking Notes: This wine is the result of a rigorous selection process, choosing only the best grapes from the Monastrell and Cabernet Sauvignon variety. The grapes were harvested in the third week of October at their optimum ripening point in 15 kg boxes. The selected fruit was chosen by the same wise hands that did it the previous year. The grapes corresponding to each variety were macerated in contact with the skin and fermented for 20/30 days at a controlled temperature of 28oC. It has spent 12 months in new french and american oak barrels.

Calvert Vineyard is a special piece of land on Felton Road in Central Otago and it is home to several great Pinot Noirs, including this fragrant, elegant and muscular wine. Produced for Owen Calvert, this wine is made by Sarah Burton who brings out Pinot's refreshing qualities of intense red florals, cherries and a savoury twist on the finish.  

Black Barn's most awarded wine. With aromas of stone fruit and citrus, layered with toast and spice from 100% barrel fermentation and extended barrel ageing.

This heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky is jam packed with coastal air and bonfire ember notes with plenty of power behind it. Not for the faint of heart, this one.

Colour - Glows like a barley field of shimmering gold

Nose - Elegant and refined. Soft delicate honey notes are entwined with vanilla spice, creamy caramel and cinnamon. Then suddenly… the growl of bonfire smoke, sea spray, cardamom and tar rope hits you. The beast is awake!

Taste - You can feel its immense power as it pours onto your palate like a violent thunderstorm. You need to brace yourself. Its “natural strength” is untamed and ferocious. Yet, seconds later - this beastly peaty, fiery spirit is soon soothed by the warmth of your tongue. Almost immediately a calmness, a stillness pervades as seductive notes of moist banana cake, thick treacle, mocha with whispers of sweet pineapple , ginger and cumin finally come into play to give you an unforgettable aftertaste. Everyone has a little beast in them - this one more than most.

Slumbering for a full decade in quiet contentment, this beguiling spirit has a lingering taste of sweet pear, crushed apples and maple syrup with gentle notes of honey, caramel, soft licorice and roasted coffee beans.

Full-bodied indulgence with a charming, long finish.

Beautifully matured in American oak and Spanish oak casks for 18 years, this outstanding Single Malt not only brings to life the natural vibrancy of Speyside but embodies a distillery?s devotion to its craft.

Scoundrels and Rogues - Giving someone the cold shoulder shouldn't always be a bad thing, not if it's Ice Cider anyway.  If you've never heard of one, don't be ashamed, you're not stupid, they just aren't that common.  Made from freeze-concentrated sickly sweet juice, that's fermented and aged in barrels for almost 6 months, it's a sweet, complex, intense, yet refreshing cider, which was bottled without carbonation.  Think of it as similar to a dessert wine, to be had after a meal.  Breakfast is a meal.  I don't judge.

This cider is sweet and devoid of bubbles, but you'll get over it.

High quality gingerbread liqueur  from French artisan producer Briottet. All the Briottet range have proper 'real' fruit (or in this case, cake) flavour integrity - they taste like the fruit/cake itself, not some confected approximation. Highly recommended!