November 4th
Villa Maria Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2011 RRP $26.99
Gorgeous Marlborough sauvignon, with classic aromas of gooseberry, fresh lime zest and a touch of tropical fruit on the nose. It's surprisingly full and lush on the palate, with a fair bit of grunt delivered in an effortlessly elegant way. It's the sort of wine that makes me want to start drinking sauvignon all over again. Charming and sexy.
November 11th
Mount Riley Riesling 2012 RRP $16.99
Mount Riley have been making good wines in Marlborough for almost 20 years, and this one's a gem. Off-dry in style, so it has a nice touch of sweetness, without being cloying. It's an intense wine full of orange, apricot and peach aromas, with a touch of spice added on the palate. The acid gives it a lovely crispness in the mouth and it is irresistibly more-ish.
November 18th
Julicher Martinborough Chardonnay 2011 RRP $22
Martinborough is best known for pinot noir, but its chardonnays are gorgeous. This is a stunner, full of toasty, yeasty notes, followed up by a slap of peach and nectarine, some passionfruit and even feijoa. Nice and three-dimensional on the palate, plenty of ripe fruit, nice acid and a background of buttered toast before coming to a crisp and elegant finish. An effortlessly brilliant wine.
November 25th
Mills Reef Elspeth Merlot 2010 RRP $45
Mills Reef is a winery that does the right things well, offering great flavour in every glass, but this is superlative. Intoxicatingly rich plum and spice notes on the nose lead to an almost bottomless depth of rich, ripe fruit on the palate. Plums, dark berries and lovely spicy notes combine to fill out the mouthfeel and the finish goes on forever. It's a complex and subtle master- piece, but one that has a lovely restrained power under the hood.
