If it's cheap and cheerful or something more challenging that you're looking for, then best you read on because these will do more than nicely ...
Nikau Point Select Hawke's Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, $13.99
The Nikau Point brand has recently been given a spruce up, meaning it looksa tad more stylish on the table, always a good thing with a sub-$15 bottle. It's a lightweight red that has layers of dried herb, berry and spice notes, with a sniff of pepper and cocoa thrown in. It's a soft, smooth, quaffable wine that'll appeal to those who want a soft, fun sip.
Spade Oak Voysey Gisborne Syrah Tempranillo 2013, $23
Tempranillo might be the signature red grape of Spanish rioja wines, yet over in Gisborne Steve Voysey has had a crack at blending it with syrah, which has its home in France's southern Rhone region. It's resulted in a wine with sweet, almost medicinal aromas of smokers' lollies, red liquorice, cherry and pepper. Smooth, plush and velvety in the mouth, it slips down gently, leaving a dusty wake. spadeoak.co.nz
Winemaker Dr Stephanie Lambert and her team have absolutely cracked it with this ultra-clean dry riesling that bursts with crunchy granny smith apple, juicy lime and flinty, wet stone minerality. It's intensely vibrant and I love the gum-tingling texture on the finish. amisfield.co.nz
