9/16/2022 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A nicely balanced wine that needs some time in a decanter and should continue to improve with cellaring. The Syrah adds some sweetness when comparing to straight cab but this is nicely integrated and not too sweet. Another great example of quality Chilean red blends at a good price point.

5/8/2020 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Does not like this wine:

If this was ever good, it isn’t now, medicinal and imbalanced.

4/18/2020 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Very early in its drinking window, hasn’t really had the time to pull all the tannins and oak together in what is a wine made to age. Will be leaving the rest in the cellar for what should turn into an exceptional wine in 5 years.

4/18/2020 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Doesn’t dissappoint. Still big and fruit driven but hasn’t gone to port like many aged Grenache blends. Decanted for an hour and was worth it. Great wine, well balanced. Hasn’t reached its peak yet so no rush to drink.

11/1/2019 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This is a great wine, drinking well at 10 years but will cellar for many more. Soft and round cab, Merlot malbec blend. Nice oak and good fruit. Well balance.

7/1/2019 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Imbalanced with acid dominating what could have otherwise been a good wine.

6/3/2019 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Also sold under the Terre da vino brand this disappointed. Had the dryness, long finish and nose that I love about Barolo but failed to click on the palate.

6/1/2019 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Nice aged Pinot, smooth, with good oak.

2/5/2019 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Good drinking now but will be great in 5-10 years. Big notes of eucalyptus and toffee. Will continue to integrate over time.

11/9/2018 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Still too young, good potential but how it integrates the higher acid and mellows will be key over the coming years.

11/9/2018 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A good wine, slightly on the light side but well balanced and very enjoyable.

10/7/2018 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

According to poggio’s website this is 100% Petit Verdot, nice wine well aged and good balance, very dry with earthy leathery tones.

10/6/2018 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Beautiful aged cab, worth a decant and plenty of life left. Earthy tones coming through but some plum and almost caramel aftertaste. One I will keep an eye out for.

5/11/2018 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Advintage cleanskin but I think it is the ngatarawa alwyn which usually sells for $90. Probably a couple of years too young but is still approachable showing good balance and a nice nose. Lots of plums and a round creamy mouthfeel.

11/5/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Still punchy even after 13 years, big tannins and solid acid. Needs a good decant prior to drinking. Great nose of an aged cab blend. The right food further smooths the experience. Good value for the cost.

10/2/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Big bold nose, red fruits, tar and oak. Raisins and plum on the palate. Smooth tannins, dry red, drinking well now.

9/24/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Does not like this wine:

This would have probably been a great wine three years ago but unfortunately it is now past its best. Nose is unbalanced and the wine has a fine sediment throughout. Sparks of a good wine persist, it is smooth with good length and a lingering caramel aftertaste but not enough to offset the unpleasant nose and ashtray palate.

9/23/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

A bold dry red with big tannins. Still young in appearance with a deep red colour. Needs to be decanted. Nose of alcohol, dark cooking chocolate and wool. Solid acid and some bitterness on the palate. Notes of pomegranate. Great length and nicely balanced. Softened over the night as we drank it but a touch too austere for me.

9/15/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This was wine of the night, bettering wines twice the price. A fantastic cab drinking well after 10 yrs but with plenty of life left.

9/15/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A dense rich wine with a great nose. Exceptional drinking but plenty of life left.

9/15/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A wonderful smooth Shiraz as you would expect given its age. slightly sweet with notes of Christmas cake and raisins. Drinking well now but also still has life left.

9/15/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Incredibly soft with hints of fruit and raisins on the palate but unfortunately past its best and this is starting to show on the nose.

8/22/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Deep red in colour, hay and cedar dominant on the nose, with a slight note of raisins. Overall a smooth wine that sits soft and round on the palate. low tannins and a medium length. Very drinkable but not wow.

8/19/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A wonderfully complex wine with a solid structure that should age well for years to come. Great nose of burnt oak and green pepper. Dry red, big and bold, plenty of fruit and some notes of coffee. Medium length.

8/19/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Pepper, oak and blackcurrent nose. Floral notes almost violets and red fruit palate. A sweet red, low tannins, medium finish.

8/5/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Not a pop and pour, needs to breathe but opens up to a fantastically complex red. Took it to our annual 'best wine under $100' challenge and it won hands down on blind tasting. Drinking well now.

8/5/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Fantastic Syrah drinking perfectly now.

8/4/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Made to be drunk young, nice fruit forward everyday red. More balanced and smooth than I thought it would be.

8/3/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Might be nostalgia talking as it is my last bottle but would compete with most second label Bordeaux's. Smooth easy drinking, good for the price.

7/28/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This is a well balanced red with soft lingering tannins and a rounded feel. Blueberry and vanilla nose and a cocoa hit on the aftertaste. No sign of age and plenty of life left. Not complex but I really enjoyed this wine.

7/22/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

I really enjoyed this wine and would think it is at peak drinking now. It is starting to show bricking and has fine sediment even when filtered. The nose is pine forest and Christmas cake. Slight taste of stewed plum but not a lot of fruit. Overall a very smooth dry red with soft tannins and a medium finish.

7/20/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This dry red is good drinking now but showing no signs of age. Deep crimson in colour with dust, leather and burnt oak on the nose. Soft lingering tannins but surprisingly only a medium finish. Not a lot of fruit or complexity but a very enjoyable merlot dominant Bordeaux.

7/14/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This is at the lighter and drier end of Syrah and is still young, almost tart if consumed without letting it breathe or too cold. Has a good nose of raspberry and pepper. Very drinkable but should continue to develop and improve over the next few years.

6/17/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Subtle nose of earth & plum, still a deep red in colour with no obvious sign of ageing, smooth with soft tannins. Fruit has faded but seems secondary & tertiary flavours have failed to fire. Lacking any real oomph. Probably past its best.

6/16/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Quintology's little brother, nose of vanilla and cola, smooth with light tannins and a medium finish. Will continue to develop over the next couple of years thanks to its integrated acid. At this stage rewards some time out of the bottle in a glass or decanter. Slightly sweet but very enjoyable.

5/27/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Has promise but needs time, still too young to be at its peak but not unenjoyable even now. With a solid tannin and acid backbone this should age well. Chocolate and burnt oak on the nose. A smooth dry red.

4/29/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Very drinkable and smooth. A Nose of blackberry and almonds, noticeable vanilla. Medium finish, little tannins, with notes of cocoa.

4/15/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

An incredibly smooth wine reflecting its age. Nose is dominated by tertiary characteristics. Length is short with most of the tannins gone. Soft and well integrated on the palate, with a slight taste of cola. Very enjoyable and still good drinking but probably past its peak.

4/14/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Nose of Blueberry and forest almost pine needles. Soft tannins and at the lighter end of merlots in structure and weight. Slight acid and shortish finish. Overall good mid range merlot that could do with a few more years.

4/14/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Still young with no sign of age and should continue to improve over the next few years. Cocoa and raspberry on the nose with a palate of raspberry, plums and slight notes of liquorice. This is a very enjoyable fruit forward, mid length wine.

4/11/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Rewards decanting. Still young in appearance with a clean dark red and purple colour. Dry red with a Herbal nose and notes of plum. Palate is tannic with some Black pepper. Tannins will continue to soften over the next few years. Certainly no hurry to drink this.

4/9/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This wine has become my benchmark for all other top quality wines. Great nose and palate. Who would have thought Marlborough grapes could produce a world class Bordeaux. If only they made more.

4/9/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Very drinkable. Still young with a deep red colour and no sign of age. A chocolate and raspberry nose and powdery tannins. Palate is soft with good balance but not overly complex. Lacks fruit slightly. Medium length. Would wait a few years to get the best from this wine.

4/8/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

A true pleasure to drink and holding together well for 15yrs but I doubt it will get better with further bottle age. Smoky earthy nose, tight acid backbone, palate is soft cherry. Very smooth, mid length, with no tannins to speak of.

4/8/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

This wine held its own following others three or four times it's price. Lighter end of Bordeaux blends. Fruit forward, with a sweet mid palate, nose of dark fruit and greenery, caramel undertone, some vanilla and mid length finish.

3/28/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Needed a couple of hours in a decanter but after airing it eased the tannins a made this a very smooth and enjoyable wine. Still plenty of life left so no hurry to drink.

3/24/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Vanilla on nose shows heavy use of oak. The acid overwhelms the palate. Still plenty of fruit even after 10 yrs and little sign of age. Will put away for another few years and see if the acid softens.

3/24/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz wrote:

Nose of alcohol, straw and raisins some cherry. Sweet fruit on the palate with slight leather. Overall a reasonably light sweat wine and medium length.

3/14/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Does not like this wine:

Too high acid for me, overtook fruit and tannins.

3/14/2017 - Nathan.Latimer@JBWere.co.nz Likes this wine:

Quality cab sav, smooth tannins, still lots of fruit and little signs of age. Holding together well, no rush to open.