All The Best Red Wines From Viva’s 2024 NZ Wine Awards

By Jo Burzynska
Viva
Man O’ War Ironclad Waiheke & Ponui Island 2021. Photo / Babiche Martens

From pinot noir to cabernet franc, these are all the best red wines to drink now from Viva’s NZ Wine Awards 2024. Back for its second year, Viva’s Wine Awards are a celebration of excellence in the New Zealand wine-making industry.

Blends

Man O’ War Ironclad Waiheke & Ponui

A bold, firmly structured but refined blend of cabernet franc, merlot, petit verdot and cabernet sauvignon, with concentrated cocoa-dusted black fruit, a touch of toasty oak and a savoury undercurrent.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Church Road TOM Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2020, $220

Only made in the best years, Church Road’s flagship from 2020 is a voluptuous but fresh wine, with ripe black plum, berry and blackcurrant fruit wrapped in velvety tannins laced with notes of tar and liquorice.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Elephant Hill “Stone” Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet 2020, $65

Hailing from the Gimblett Gravels, this concentrated, full-bodied and highly structured blend has brooding black fruits, an ironlike minerality and a savoury undertone.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Hans Herzog Spirit of Marlborough 2017, $36

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Hans Herzog has released a special edition of its rich and structured flagship wine, a complex and concentrated blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon with layers of black fruits, earth and cedarwood.

Pinot Noir

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Ata Rangi Kotinga Martinborough Pinot Noir 2021, $125

Due for release later this year, this offers an exquisite taste of Ata Rangi’s innovation. Rather than maturing it in traditional burgundy barriques, a large oak foudre was used to preserve the brightness of this fresh and silken single-site pinot with its pure cherry fruit infused with rose florals and spice, and a subtle savoury depth. In the meantime, try the 2020 Ata Rangi Kotinga Pinot Noir.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Rippon “Rippon” Mature Vine Lake Wānaka Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020, $88

A taut energy ripples through a wine that, in this youthful period, is driven by the freshness of its cherry fruit over notes of stone and savoury herb. With an understated intensity, this will age beautifully as demonstrated by decades of past vintages.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Felton Road Block 3 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022, $109

Depth and agility combine in one of Felton Road’s five single-block wines. It has a seamless and beautifully silky palate with stone-dusted and savoury-edged fresh cherry fruit and hints of herb.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Prophet’s Rock Cuvee Aux Antipodes Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020, $119

A fabulous fusion of old and new worlds. The density of its black cherry and blackcurrant fruit is a pure expression of Prophet’s Rock’s Bendigo vineyard, layered with savoury notes of thyme and tapenade, perfumed with violet, encased in firm but fine tannins, and building in a crisp, slatey crescendo.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Blank Canvas Escaroth Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021, $60

Blank Canvas’ concentrated and plush black fruits mingle with notes of cola, violet, smoke and dried leaves, in an opulent pinot noir tempered by a bright freshness.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Craggy Range Aroha Te Muna Martinborough Pinot Noir 2022, $170

From Julian Ground’s time at the winemaking helm comes a lighter style of pinot with an understated depth to its fragrant, fresh and silky palate of spice, florals, herbs, red fruit, and minerals.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Mohawk Hill by Maude Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022, $50

From one of Maude’s estate vineyards, boldly fruited but fresh with notes of plum, forest floor and graphite.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Main Divide Waipara Valley Pinot Noir 2022, $27

Great value for money, it is hard to believe its plush plum fruit and complex layers of forest floor, herb and smoke is a mere $27.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Pyramid Valley Snake’s Tongue Pinot Noir 2021, $125

This stunning, silken-textured new member of Pyramid Valley’s top-tier wines opens up to reveal rich but fresh and pure plum fruit, a strong stony element and an undercurrent of earth, game and flowers.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Sorrell Churton Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022, $49

Focused on the freshness and energy that drives its complex palate of plum, dried flowers and herbs.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Te Whare Ra Clayvin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021, $75

Silky textured with considerable weight to its rich herb-infused plum fruit but still wonderfully fresh and light on its feet.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Valli Waitaki Vineyard North Otago Pinot Noir 2022, $95

The cool climates and limestone hillside give a powerfully fresh focus to its bright, light and silken palate of cherry fruit, spice, earth, rocks and savoury, perfumed with sweet herbs.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Cabernet Franc

Black Estate North Canterbury Cabernet Franc 2022, $55

Black Estate’s conviction to plant cabernet franc for its potential as a standalone variety in Waipara has been proved correct in the seriously good 2022. In this fresh and plush textured wine, fragrant notes of violet, earth and stone mingle with its pure black cherry and boysenberry fruit.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Swift Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2022, $36

A pretty, perfumed and crunchy expression of the variety with its red fruits, rosemary and violet.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Malbec

Fromm Vineyard Fromm Marlborough Malbec 2019, $85

One of the beautiful wines from Fromm’s Hatsch Kalberer era, this is velvety textured with fresh and intense dark boysenberry fruit perfumed with violet and clove, over a savoury base.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Syrah

Huntress Herringbone Vineyard Bridge Pa Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2023, $46

Huntress’ first Hawke’s Bay release is a light, pretty and aromatic expression with bright plum fruit overlaid with fragrant notes of florals, green herb and pepper.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Gamay

Mount Edward Central Otago Gamay 2023, $45

One of the country’s most consistently gorgeous gamays - juicy, bright berry-fruited, gently herbed, eminently drinkable and seriously fun.

Photo / Babiche Martens
Photo / Babiche Martens

Tempranillo

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2022, $40

An alternative variety from Trinity Hill, juicy and sumptuous black and red fruit laced with notes of cocoa and liquorice spice.

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