New Zealand Spotlight - June 2020

Effusively declared by Tongue in Groove MD Angela Clifford as 'probably the best Riesling we've ever made'. Drier than the 2013 vintage with only 6 g/l residual sugar, this a refined vintage of the trademark Tongue in Groove style.

Ripe and attractive black-cherry and plum aromas with a neat thread of spicy and earthy, savory notes. Supple, fleshy and silky palate with juicy, ripe and spicy red-cherry flavors, finishing fresh and luscious. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

From a site that faces directly north and gets more of a tropical fruit character than the citrus and so “Can take heavier oak,” according to Michael Brajkovich. Just a touch of hazelnut and light toast, a pure line of lime fruit again, fabulous acidity, but touching on peach and nectarine...(read more)

A blend of parcels across the property, this has a deeply spicy array of mixed fruit, framed in aromas of flint, dark stones, pepper, woody spices, wild herbs and fresh earth. Texturally, this is super fine and taut, which reflects the schist soils found here. Very fine, powerful and athle...(read more)

Made from 100% Mendoza clone. Intense mineral sense to this, with more limey fruit intenstity than the Block 6 perhaps, and a touch of creaminess off-setting a little bit flint in this bottling. Lovely balance, with salinity to the acidity and the ripeness of the fruit, gentle creamy oak.

A little bit of flint and minerals here, "all natural and not winemaking," according to Blair Walters. A hint of passion fruit and lovely cut and freshness, grapefruit and some oatmeal filling in. The palate has juiciness and a racing, elegant acid structure, the lick of salts an...(read more)

From a slope above the Maté's vineyard replanted in 2000, this is flecked with green in colour, a little touch of fig, but lots of lime blossom finesse. The palate has such a blast of salinity, sheer and flowing, such gorgeous clarity and that blast of mineral salts. Outstanding.

Maté Barjkovich's name lives on in this vineyard immediately opposite the winery and family home, all planted with the Mendoza clone. Gorgeous nose, quite opulent and pear and peach, so much vibrant, brilliant fruit and acid, moves into nougat, etched by beautiful acidity, the opule...(read more)

Really pristine fruit aromas here with such pure, ripe red cherries and roses, as well as gently earthy and spicy nuances. Very fresh, precisely ripe and a pinot you can sit and just breathe in for days. The palate has a velvety layer that few others manage to find; silky at the core, succ...(read more)

Splash out on what is undoubtedly New Zealand’s finest chardonnay. Coddington always has plenty of bite and the 2017 is elegant and ripe, with a nutty, generous finish while retaining its complexity.’

The Hunting Hill vineyard always produces wines that are more taught and mineral. And here the nose does not disappoint, focused and with powdery floral notes. White and pithy citrus notes follow to the pallet. There is great energy and fresh cut here. Smart, restrained oak notes come in l...(read more)