Don’t mess around with “medium” this week. Thankfully you don’t need to be a bungy-jumping, cross-fitting, skydiving fanatic to show your appreciation of the extreme …
Wines available on BITEwine.co.nz for a limited time
Loveblock Marlborough Moscato Brut 2014 Crafted by Kim and Erica Crawford from their 73ha, sustainably-farmed block high in the Awatere Valley hills, this is one of the more interesting sparklers I've tried. While the classic, musky peach and guava aromas moscato grapesare famous for are all here, it's actually super-dry. Expect crisp, crunchy, flinty, oyster shell flavours that cry out for some umami-rich food. Price: $25
Felton Road Central Otago Dry Riesling 2014 If anything is going to kickstart your taste buds, it's this. Don't let the lifted heirloom apple, beeswax, cornflower and soft flint and floral notes on the nose lull you into a false sense of flouncy, because this Cromwell cracker is bone-dry. I love the white pepper, green apple and mineral-driven precision of this wine - and its exfoliating effect on the palate. Outstanding. Price: $28
Akarua Alchemy Ice 2013 375ml Okay, so once you've recovered from paying "$50 for half a bottle of wine!" think of it this way: you'll be able to give yourself and your closest friends a splash of this each and your lives will be richer for it. Enjoy swoon-inducing aromas of rockmelon, apricot danish, pear and yellow roses followed by grilled nectarine, candied citrus, toffee and nutmeg notes. The acidity is incredibly fresh and twanging for a wine that weighs in at a heartstopping 207g/l residual sugar. Price: $50
