6/5/2020 - StainedGlass wrote:

Restrained very light tropical fruit and some minerality. It capped off an evening of blind tasting done with mostly red wines and was refreshing and mistaken for a white burgundy. Just 12.5% abv.

1/24/2020 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine:

brief notes, tiny pour

NB....my bottle label detail says "Single Vinyard Taylor's Pass'' Sav Blanc, and is a black coloured label but nowhere does the word ''Reserve'' appear on it.

N....big nose, rich fruit, some Marlb Sav Blanc grassy character sits alongside ripe tropicals

T....more settled than I expected a classy 1 yr old Marlb Sav Blanc to be; good solid sustained fruit flavours, some power, ends med-dry at best. Probably better at 2 yrs old but I wouldn't keep it any longer than 4 yrs old.

Rec RP £17.00.....easily worth that.

1/13/2020 - benjaminpaul wrote:

I can see why this has a bit of a name. Boysenberry, vanilla, black pepper spice, eucalyptus and menthol, cedar. This is concentrated and rich yet bright and clear on the finish. An excellent wine and great value.

7/27/2019 - benjaminpaul wrote:

Day 2. Green pepper, steak, juniper, red and black berries, coffee bean. Juicy yet cool. Needs time.

7/29/2019 - evanqian wrote:

Dense and pure, dark plum, violet, savoury spices, concentrated with precision.

BC 95

Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+3/10
Total 92+/100

5/8/2019 - chatters wrote:

New Zealand micro trip; 5/6/2019-5/9/2019 (North Island, New Zealand): Standard worked chardonnay boxes all ticked…Plenty of oak, malolactic, a little peachy tending tropical fruit under this. Adjusted acid (?) is quite sharp, the fruit a little flat. Meh.

4/20/2019 - seijaro wrote:

Not much varietal flavor here and light in style for a Syrah. Faded below 90 after 90 minutes, so we went to another wine after drinking half. Can't say it's a bad wine, just pretty much of a disappointment. I can't imagine why I tried NZ for a red, they own the SB grape and are pretenders with everything else.

4/2/2019 - dave747400 wrote:

With almonds & various cheeses night one, Steak & chip-shop chips night two.
Night one.... Poured one glass & ploughed through it with masochistic determination. Almost no nose and the very definition of 'tannic' in the mouth. Just a wall of dry tannin with something behind it, that no amount of swirling would penetrate. Cork replaced, in the fridge for 12hrs, then removed at midday the next day to come up to temperature.
Night two.... Enter stage left, miraculously transformed wine. Enticing sweet cherry & herb nose on pouring. Palate unrecognizable from yesterday. Full & sweet, cherries & red fruits all over the place but with burgundian lightness of touch as it glides over the taste buds. Tannins are present & correct, but part of the balanced whole. Gorgeous.

9/24/2018 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine:

Excellent. Just what you want from a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

1/16/2017 - kostaslonis wrote:

New Zealand London Annual Trade Tasting (Lindley Hall, Royal Horticultural Halls): Red fruit, spices and sweet oak, the palate is light, tasty, red fruit and spices again, straightforward and easygoing, lacking complexity but would be nice to have on its own, med finish

5/10/2018 - cono_sur Likes this wine:

Highly aromatic with smoky-flinty notes followed by buttered popcorn, pear, and baked apple notes. The medium-full bodied palate is ripe and elegant with stone fruits, pear and gentle oak spice with just a touch of sweetness. Acids are very good, while finishing long.

5/10/2018 - dbloganjp@gmail.com Likes this wine:

Soft and supple with a balanced finish. Fully mature and excellent with a strip loin grilled steak, medium rare.

10/15/2016 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:

Again similar impressions to previously but a lower score. It's a good, well made New World Cabernet Merlot with no faults. However, I don't find any nuance or interest here. It is fairly linear. Perhaps it'll develop more interest as it ages? It's under screwcap so it'll be some years before any evolution becomes clearer ...

11/8/2017 - C.Guzman Likes this wine:

Delicious!

7/26/2017 - vlzat wrote:

The case is finished itself. Very enjoyable wine. So much lovely aroma of stone fruits, citrus, melon, flowers and grass with lingering mineral finish. Don't cool it too much.

7/20/2017 - Johanlofstrand wrote:

Den var ok men sparar de andra 2

7/6/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote:

Flight on a flight (SFO-AKL) (AirNZ): Medium minus yellow color (has a touch of color)
Pronounced nose with classic aromas of grass and grapefruit, and hints of passionfruit and ripe mandarin orange.
On the palate, it feels like slight RS, maybe 2-3g? (this is likely close - the 2015 had 4g/L according to the producer website).
Slightly elevated alcohol - feels 13.5%. Medium plus acid. No phenolic bitterness. Clear flavors and a clean finish.

A great example of entry-level Sauv Blanc.

6/16/2017 - TheBoojum Likes this wine:

Something a bit special
4*
Expected a bit more based on past experience

6/14/2017 - chatters wrote:

GT Wine Top Tasting 2015 Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir (8 Danks street, Sydney): Slightly stalky and dusty over sweet red berry. Hmm nose. More of the same on the palate. Having said that it is pleasantly fleshy but the fruit is, perhaps, a little tight. Travels long, finishes savoury and grippy. There is something here that compels me to consume. Rather nice.

4/25/2017 - evanqian wrote:

79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.5% Merlot, 6.5% Cabernet Franc

Medium+ dark red. Dark fruits, chocolate and clear capsicums in nose. Same flavours in mouth, solid structure, medium grained tannins, a little alcohol warm, medium finish. Generally balanced but not mellowed yet, need time.

BC 95, RC 18.5+, SK 97, IWC 2016 - Hawke's Bay Cabernet Blend Trophy

Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 16/20, Overall 5+3/10
Total 91+/100

2/17/2017 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine:

This is 'Montana Waipara Riesling by Brancott Estate', their bog standard cheapie brand. This is not the Brancott Letter series. Nor the Montana 'South Island' label.

Well chilled. Screw cap.

Bargain. For approx $nz 9.00 this is outstanding Riesling. Great concentration, lively acidity - if drunk early - lovely New World Waipara Riesling flavours. Spatlese-Kabbinett style. Finishes semi-dry, not really dry. Not hugely complex Riesling, but a bargain for the price. Outstanding 'quaffer.'

VFM? V good. Buy again. Drink young. If on promo for $8.99 a super bargain.

2/17/2017 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine:

approx $NZ 26.00
Screw Cap.

A bit ordinary, if I'm honest. New World chardonnay but done in the formerly fashionable heavy oak style. Wood on nose and wood in mouth.

Nose....wood! A bit of peaches and cream.

Taste .....again, wood! Med-dry wine. Good acid, feels mature at just 4 years old. Very settled, creamy. Just too much wood for me. Unbalanced? What, from the control-freaks at Craggy Range???? Nice almond flavour in there somewhere. Just a hint of minerals.

VFM? Not good. Will buy other CR whites again, not this one.

1/18/2017 - evanqian wrote:

Classic Marlborough SB. All typical aromas and flavours, clear and clean in mouth. High acidity, more restrained and moderate palate comparing to other Marlborough or its previous vintages, but it goes over, making a sudden stop finish. It tastes more diluted in general. Disappointed under its reputation.

Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 16/20, Overall 4+0/10
Total 87/100

1/7/2017 - evanqian wrote:

Blind Tasting - Finest New Zealand Chardonnay (Epsom, Auckland): Opened this after blind tasting, pure and clear Palate, textbook style, stone fruits, nuts, oak, cream and subtle minerals. all balanced. Same quality level as blind tasting lineups tonight.

Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+2/10
Total 91/100

1/14/2017 - Marc wrote:

Beautiful showing for this wine. Lime, high toned honey, minerals, classic Riesling fruit, lowish acid, quite developed, wonderfull balance, Drinks very well now. Certainly outstanding with Thai Beef Salad.

10/23/2016 - chatters wrote:

funky but in an enjoyable way, quite fleshy and pleasant. Nice.

10/9/2016 - chatters wrote:

Pinotpalooza (Carriageworks, Redfern): Funky and meaty, slightly reductive almost; closed down. With work some fruit starts to come through though it does feel a little disjointed. More of the same on the palate - all the ingredients are there but it feels disjointed like watching a puppy on a slippery floor.

10/11/2016 - Callum's Corkers Likes this wine:

Ohau Gravels Rose' (Woven Stone label) 2014
Bought £7.50 promo price Sustainable Wines UK October 2016

Brilliant. Everything I want in a Rose': finishes dry after shed loads of fruit, beyond pink, solid medium-bodied, v good with food as well as natural quaffer, being well chilled doesn't dull its flavour. Fun.

C....beyond Pink, no insipid south of France/Provence AC rubbish here.

N....heaps of charming strawberry, plums, raspberry.

T....tons of fruit but balanced with cleansing acidity. Perfect picnic wine - if you can keep it chilled. I'm amazed it's still this fresh and exciting at 2 yrs old. Best Rose' I've had in ages, even a little better than the excellent Villa Maria's Private Bin Hawke's Bay 2015 Rose (£8.00 Tesco's).

VFM? Bargain at £7.50 promo price. Worth twice that. Kicks over-priced tasteless Provence AC Rose into the ditch.

10/6/2016 - hughcmagee Likes this wine:

Characteristically pinot noir to look at - light red, almost translucent. A strong nose of plum and other dark fruits. Very smooth taste at the start (almost a little too so). Not much flavour mid-way through, though a tad more oomph towards the finish. A very soft aftertaste, which may not be to your liking if you prefer dry wine. Probably would go well with an inexpensive Indian, red meat curry.

9/25/2016 - Duncan wrote:

Dark ruby. Translucent, but fairly intensely coloured. Attractive nose of black cherries and something medicinal. On the palate there's a balsamic tang offsetting the sweet fruit. Quite long, good acidity, more (fine) tannins than most NZ Pinots; a food wine, though pleasant by itself too. There's a nip of heat, surprising as it's only 13.5%. Overall, a very pleasing New World Pinot, worth paying attention to. Screwcap.

9/19/2016 - Lobonick Likes this wine:

I'm amazed to be praising a NZ Sauv Blanc. Powerful guava and tropical fruit on the nose with just a bit of dried grass. Palate is balanced and has an earthy note. (Thank goodness there is no pornographic "grassiness" or gooseberry or even worse, cat pee!) Really a nice wine. I'm startled about where it's from.

7/17/2016 - evanqian wrote:

generally juicy and smooth. black currant and subtle mint notes, light bodied with some powdery tannins. good acidity. some greenish notes, a food friendly table wine.

Ap: 5/5; Ar: 11/15; palate: 14/20; overall: 2+1/10
TOTAL: 83/100

6/24/2016 - EMAZurich wrote:

Einmal eine erste Flasche kosten...
Ja, weder Nase noch Gaumen wirklich aufregend. Nullachtfünfzehnbordeaux, glatt, international - nicht schlecht aber nicht gut. Naja...
Ein veritabler Mitwochenwein aber für den Jahrgang enttäuschend. 89

Tag 2 - heute deutlich schöner. Schwarzbeerig, Teer, Lakritz mit schöner Mineralik und leichtem Honighauch im Finale. Heute 91, belassen wir das finale Voting im Moment bei 90...

12/24/2015 - benjaminpaul wrote:

On the nose orange, lemon, lime, white flesh fruit, green apple. Palate is similar with minerality, and slight toasty characteristics that don't dominate the beautiful fruit. Wonderful drop.

5/24/2015 - Vinomark wrote:

Actually could use more time as nice but complexity lacking but has the stuff to improve.

2/20/2015 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:

Under cork. Drunk over three evenings (in the fridge with the cork in between). Did not change over that time. Old gold, light colour. Nose of baking spices, wet slate and limestone, stainless steel, limes, calcified oyster shell and sea spray. Gorgeous sparkling acids on palate provide surgical precision and focus. Great acidic cut. Similar flavour profile to the bouquet: citrus, green apple and rock salt mixed with steel, crushed granite and chalk. Grand cru level dry extract, complexity and power. A long, dry finish. A match made in heaven with a good blue cheese. I've had a couple of good MdTs lately - including '10 Billaud-Simon and '12 Patrick Piuze - and this is head and shoulders above. Ideally, give it another 3+ years.

11/14/2014 - Christoffer78 Likes this wine:

An absolutely stunning effort made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with a slight amount of Frappato as the "dot over the i". The first impression is very intense, flowery and clean with the nose full of red berries, citrus zest, mint and green strawberries. There is also fresh herbs like thyme, sage and rosemary. This nose is just amazing and it keeps improving the more air the wine gets. The palate is just as good with a very outspoken and vivid acidity integration will improve with time, but there is certainly enough structure to compensate. Tannins are not very vocal, but they linger on in the backend. This is a lovely wine, which will benefit from being paired to food. Will last for years in the cellar.

9/22/2014 - Woodbridge Brad Likes this wine:

Slightly green and rough around the edges it is still a very enjoyable red. Reasonable fruit and development, nice value at $10.

12/28/2013 - evanqian wrote:

Classic NZ Wine Trail - Martinborough (Martinborough): unusual red blend: 60% Merlot, 30% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, though it's been there for many years.

dark red/purple. still young. intense flavours. strong Syrah pepper spice and Merlot dark fruits. CS contributes powdery tannins as backbone in the quite grand but weird structure. heavy and powerful, long woody finish with chocolate and vanilla. but I think there is less harmony among different flavours, tastes just like a quick mixture. reluctant to say it's balanced, maybe this style is too weird to be my cup of tea.

Alc 13.5% , TA 6.0, pH 3.5

Bob Campbell 90(Apr 2013) 93(Jun 2014), Sommelier 2014 Gold, Michael Cooper 4.5 stars

AP: 4/5; AR: 12/15; Palate: 14/20; overall: 3+4/10
TOTAL: 87+/100

5/13/2014 - Michael Grey Likes this wine:

It's all in the bottle!

6/3/2014 - Marc wrote:

Earthy and stemmy/spicy nose of sour cherry. On the palate, correct to its Central Otago terroir with a nice balance for an entry level wine. Refreshing and lingering with sour cherrie on the finish. Very well judged.

12/8/2013 - graemeg wrote:

NobleRottersSydney - Christmas Lunch 2013 (DavidC's house): {screwcap, 13.5%} (Gordon) Mid-garnet. Polished cherry nose over a dark earthy foundation. Classic Otago mix of brightness and earth. Sweetly-fruited, with gentle gritty tannins. Blossoms like a flower on the palate. The sweetness of the fruit flavours is surprisingly contrasted with a very dry and quite austere finish. Medium-bodied. Very good but needs some time to mature.