HIHI GISBORNE MALBEC MERLOT 2010/2011, $18
This wine has indeed been created by blending 2010 and 2011 wine together - and it's darn good. Hihi's Andy Nimmo took home medals for practically every wine he entered in the Gisborne Regional Show - and it's easy to see why. In the six short years he's been in the wine game he's become a winemaker to watch. This fantastic-value malbec has intense pepper, dark cherry, plum, smoke and freshly ploughed earth aromas with vivid dry tannins and a long, warming finish. For stockists visit www.hihi.co.nz
KIRKPATRICK ESTATE RESERVE MALBEC 2009, $35
1/2Perfumed with sexy red rose, spice and dried thyme, this is a red oozing smoky, peppery, coffee-like characters, dry tannins and lipsmacking length of flavour. Drinking nicely now, but another year or so in the cellar will create magic I'm sure. Stockists at www.kew.co.nz
BULLER BEVERFORD MOSCATO 2011, $17