The first year Kevin Judd made his Wild Sauvignon was in 2009 and the winemaking has remained consistent ever since with complexity, creaminess and a full body coming from the 100% barrel fermentation with wild yeasts followed by malolactic fermentation to soften the acidity for two thirds of the wine. It then spends approximately 11 months maturing in barrel and remains in tank for another six months for battonage (the French name for stirring the lees - the decomposing yeast cells left over in the wine).

Gamey, savoury, deliciously refreshing Pinot Noir from Martinborough's next new big thing - Te Muna Valley, a dramatically majestic sub region for grapes that is situated 9 kilometres east of Martinborough village. 

Big Sky Wines is on the high alluvial terraces of Martinborough's Huangarua River at Te Muna, 9 kilometres east of the village. Low yielding deep gravels, hot days and cool nights result in wines that are deep and complex. This is their flagship wine from a low vigour, low cropping vineyard.  Hand picked, crushed into two tonne open fermenters with 10% whole bunch fermentation and minimal crushing and with wild fermentation followed by 12 months in French oak, 12.5% of which was new. And therein lies the beauty of this insanely delicious Pinot Noir with its ripe berry fruit flavours of dark cherries and plums, balanced by mouth filling savouriness, warm spice, and silky tannins. 

The Big Sky story

Jeremy Corban and Katherine Jacobs founded Big Sky Wines in the Te Muna Valley, Martinborough, in 2005. They have since expanded their small vineyard, which is predominantly planted in Pinot Noir and also has a little Sauvignon Blanc, which they give extra textural complexity to with a little time in old oak on lees. 

Elston is the top Chardonnay of Te Mata Estate and is a powerfully long lived dry white with a full body, aromas of cream, hazlenuts and almonds leading into a rich citrusy, textural wine. 

Elston takes its name from the ancestral home of Charles Darwin, Elston Hall in Nottinghamshire, the UK, and tastes dry with ripe stone fruit flavours of peach and nectarines, balanced by a citrusy, creamy and lingering finish. 

A great wine to enjoy now and to keep.

Earthy notes and freshly crushed forrest leaves lead the aromas in this complex and smooth Pinot Noir from Johner Estate winery in the central Wairarapa. This is an outstanding wine with depth and richness providing a plush mid palate texture to this lively, lovely wine. Drink now or cellar for five to six years+.

"Fresh and flinty aromas of lime, hazelnut and a hint of vanilla. The palate is bright with nettle, white peach, and melon. Flavours of raw almond, wet stone and oyster shell. This is unfiltered wine with small amounts of sediment." Winemakers note.

This is an excellent Chardonnay from North Canterbury. Black Estate is biodynamic and certified organic. This wine is delicate and complex.

Mount Edward Winery is one of the few producers of great Chenin Blanc in New Zealand and this is a dry style with succulent flavours of white peach, a hint of honey and juicy acidity giving this wine its mouthwateringly long finish. 

Mount Edward Wines was founded by the godfather of modern Central Otago wine, Alan Brady, in 1997. Its name comes from Mount Edward and iti s situated at the foot of this mountain in the Gibbston Valley, which is the source of some of the grapes used in its wines. Most of the vineyard source for Mount Edward is further afield, notably in Pisa at the outstanding Morrison Vineyard and in Bannockburn at the Muirkirk Vineyard. 

A great white from the world's most southern wine region.

Dry and delicious quirky white blend of  Chardonnay, Viognier and Chenin Blanc. Three well known white grapes that find a delicious equal footing of expression in this lovely dry, complex white which offers fab value for money. Dan Brennan began life in the music industry before turning his talents to winemaking.

Drink with toasted salty almonds for a fabulous contrast with the opulence of the wine. 

Pinot lovers will adore this spicy, earthy and juicy medium bodied Pinot Noir from Marlborough's Southern Valleys, where elevated hillside vineyard sites benefit the early ripening Pinot grape. This is a great red with structure and impressive flavours for drinking now and also for cellaring, if willpower allows.

A  very aromatic Pinot Gris with a nose exhibiting quince, dough, pear apple and cream. The palate is rich and intense with flavours of pork fat, apple and stone ruit - brought together in a bright acid frame.

This is New Zealand's smallest and one of its coolest climate wine regions. It typically produces high quality, delicate and silky Pinot Noirs, and this rose is made 100% from Pinot grapes, which were lightly pressed to provide a minimala pale pink hue to this lively fresh, dry and full bodied wine. 

Hawke's Bay winemaker Grant Edmonds sources the Albarino grapes in this stunning wine from the Bridge Pa area of Hawke's Bay and wow, what a wine. 

Fresh, crisp, intensely flavoursome and every sip lingers, thanks to the Albarino grape's naturally high acidity which provides great flavour memory here. This is a stellar new addition to Edmonds' Redmetal wine brand.

Delicious and succulent in every sip. 

Great ripe, juicy new Hawke's Bay Syrah from maverick winemaker Rod McDonald, whose love affair with Syrah shows in this full bodied red made from a mix of French clones and was made traditionally with the grapes going through a cold soak to extract colour before natural fermentation kicked off eventually building up to a strong, hot ferment.

McDonald describes this wine as having beautiful, lifted floral notes and a lovely punchy mouthful of fruit and earth.  Bright and vibrant with aromas of raspberries, violets and nutmeg. Silky with great balance and a fine structure. 

"This Pinot Noir has a bouquet of sweet berry fruit, and cherries. With notes of earthy forest floor and mushrooms, the palate is elegantly well balanced with fine tannins and boasts a lingering finish. This is delicious when served with many red meat dishes, and is particularly good with duck or a rich mushroom risotto. The flavours in this wine develop beautifully in the wine glass." - Ataahua wines

Winery's notes...

A stylish Hawke's Bay blend that has chartered our way, a wine with a strong character and a strong following. Blended from the best blocks from our estate, we use a variety of clones, each block fermented then matured in oak barrels as stand alone parcels. After 12 months initial maturation, each barrel was tasted and scored with only the best making the cut for The Navigator. Softly concentrated with deep and dense aromas of plush red fruits, cocoa, spice and cedar, the palate is medium-full bodied with rich and succulent flavours. 

The long finish and fine tannins make this an ideal accompaniment for your beef dishes, richly flavoured foods and cheeses. 

Merlot 34%, Cabernet Sauvignon 31%, Cabernet Franc 19%, Malbec 16%