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
If you're looking for a snappy, crunchy sweet, refreshingly tropical wine with a hint of spritz and a terrifically tangy mouthfeel then this is it. I love how cleansing and vibrant it tastes, and the lemon undertones give it great longevity in the mouth. Only 5 per cent alcohol means you can have two glasses for lunch and safely drive your computer back at work. For stockists, email jessica.thomas@kono.co.nz
TUI DARK 330ml, $24.99 x 12 pack
I love dark beers of all descriptions; however, in my house I find I'm usually on my own when it comes to drinking them because my husband is not a big fan and my children are, well, children. I have a fantastic neighbour who'll usually sup any sort of beer at any time, but as he's looking after his lovely wife who is extremely unwell, he's decided, very sensibly, to stay off the booze in case he has to drive her to hospital at short notice. I tried to share one with our local rural postie to get his take on whether he found it tasty, but he was on the job and declined.
I gave him a bottle to enjoy after work, and I hope he enjoys it because I did. The new edition to the Tui family is almost a "dark beer for lager lovers" in that it is extremely mild, smooth and tangy. It doesn't have the bitter, smoky, sharp, Marmite-like characters which many people find too strong, it isn't a beer that will overpower your tastebuds and it has some roasted, nutty notes which round out the mid-palate. Purists will struggle with how "light" it is, but I think it's an interesting style.