January 6th
Mud House Waipara Hills Equinox Pinot Gris 2011 RRP $28
A fantastic summer wine, with a lovely poached pear and spice nose, and a hint of Granny Smith apple underneath. There is plenty of texture and weight on the palate, with the pear flavour coming through perfectly, underpinned by a waft of ginger on the finish. Perfect drinking over the warmer months ahead.
January 13th
Tohu Mugwi Reserve Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2011 RRP $27.95
Picked up a gold medal at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, so you know it's good. How good? Very good. Oak and lees ageing add real richness and texture to the vibrant tropical flavours and a lovely mineral touch on the finish.
January 20th
Grandin Brut NV RRP $19.99
A classy French alternative to the usual bubblies, this wine is a lovely blend of chenin blanc and chardonnay, which makes for a more floral nose than your typical Champagne. Good rose-petal aromas and a nice nutty character on the palate, with a touch of old honey. This is a very fine fizz at a fantastic price.
January 27th
Te Mata Woodthorpe Syrah 2011 RRP $22.99
It's hard to put into words how much I love finding such high-quality wine at such an affordable price, but I'll try anyway. The Woodthorpe label has been offering great wines for next to nothing for a few years now, but the 2011 syrah is an absolute jewel. Black- berries, black pepper, leather and plums all combine on the palate to give you a taste of the high life at a bargain basement price.
