Top Wines Tasted for 2022

If you get the chance to look back through the Winter 2022 edition there’s a ‘top wines tasted so far’ section. Those wines still make the cut for the best of. That list included NO1 Family Estate Rosé Methode NV, Amisfield Methode Brut 2019, Astrolabe Wrekin Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2020, Dry River 'Lovat Vineyard' Gewürztraminer 2021, Mount Brown Estates Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2020, Blank Canvas Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2020, Ata Rangi Masters Chardonnay 2020, Tony Bish Skeetfield Chardonnay 2020, West Brook Waimauku Chardonnay 2017, Clearview Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2020, Greywacke Chardonnay 2019, Lawson's Dry Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Trinity Hill 125 Chardonnay 2020, Greystone Organic Chardonnay 2019, Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2020, Two Paddocks Proprietor's Reserve 'The Fusilier' Pinot Noir 2019, Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2020, Wild Earth ‘Earth and Sky’ Pinot Noir 2021, Dicey Inlet Pinot Noir 2020, Luna Estate Silver River Pinot Noir 2019, Black Estate 'Home' Pinot Noir 2020, Bruce by Matahiwi Estate 2019 Pinot Noir, Jackson Estate Vintage Widow Pinot Noir 2018, Black Quail Pinot Noir 2019, Hans Herzog Blaufränkisch 2019, Fromm Vineyard Malbec 2019, Radburnd Merlot Cabernet 2019.

Since publishing that list, I have tasted through many wines from Aotearoa as well as multiple examples from overseas. In fact, as we go to print for this edition several hundred more samples will pass by my desk for tasting and evaluation. The list that follows showcases some outstanding wines from throughout our fine country, I do hope you get the opportunity to try some of them soon.

Askerne Reserve Chardonnay 2021, Hawkes Bay. Fresh white fleshed stone fruits, grapefruit and a light gun-flint quality. Oak and spice weave between a core of fruits from citrus to peach to apple and pear. A delicious satin textured wine ready drink from late 2022 through 2028+. 95 Points.

Paritua 21.12 Red Blend 2019, Hawkes Bay. Blackberries and roasted plums, tobacco and cigar scents with a toasty barrel and baking spices complexity. Full-bodied and complex, intense, fruity, toasty and young. Firm tannins and acidity layer in foundation textures and mouthfeel. A delicious wine, a classic wine, exacting, lengthy and complex. 2025 through 2040. 97 Points

Collaboration Wines 'Verdant' Chardonnay 2021, Hawkes Bay. Youthful, taut, mineral and ripe with a citrus focused bouquet. Grapefruit and sandstone, white peach and apple flesh. There’s power and lots of energy both on the nose and palate, a wine with a taut youthful structure, some great core fruit flavours, chalky mouthfeel and lengthy finish. 2023 through 2029+. 93 Points.

Rockburn 'Nine Barrels' Pinot Noir 2021, Parkburn Vineyard, Central Otago. Red fruits from raspberry and red cherry of the forest and farmers market. There’s also plenty of smoky wood scents with spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. Taut and youthful with tannins and acidity driving the texture then wood spices and a core of ripe fruits and a light savoury dried herb quality. 2024 through 2032+. 96 Points

Smith & Sheth CRU Omahu Syrah 2020, Hawke's Bay. Great core of dark raspberry, black olive and black currant fruits, layers of clove and baked vanilla toasty wood spices, a field mushroom and aged meat qualities with a dry stone mineral baseline. Complex and young. Weighty, fresh, satin-smooth and delicious. 2024 through 2029. 94 Points.

Unison Syrah Rocks 2019, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay. Berries, dark fruit and spice scents with a cracked pepper and black currant, raspberry and plum and barrel spices with a stony earth gravel quality surround the fruit and present a complex, ripe and fruit centric wine. A back bone of acidity precede flavours of dark berries and plum with layers of oak, nut and gravels. 2024 through 2029+. 94 Points

Neudorf Rosie's Block Amphora Chardonnay 2021, Nelson. A complex and highly textured bouquet with scents of fine gravel and sand, a core of peach and sweet citrus flesh, layers of fine lees with an autolysis effect adding substance and weight [to the bouquet]. No oak. A fantastic wine showing the true flavours of the vineyard, a core of stone fruit and citrus, great acid line and dry finish. 96 Points

Two Rivers 'Phoenix' Pinot Gris 2022, Marlborough. Precise, pure, ripe and varietal bouquet with scents of quince and red pear, apple and white spice, a fine wet stone mineral quality and fine lees complexity. A silky texture touches the palate first followed by a core palate of pear and white nectarine flavours. 2022 through 2026+. 93 Points

Te Pa 'Organic' Pinot Noir 2021, Marlborough. Dark cherry and wild forest berries, there’s a distinctive savoury mineral and layers of wood spice from clove to vanilla and nutmeg stone. Fleshy textures, red berry fruit flavours, firm youthful tannins with a chalky mouthfeel, plenty of acidity and long finish. 2023 through 2029. 95 Points

Trinity Hill 125 Gimblett Chardonnay 2021, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay. Fabulous bouquet, new, ripe, fresh and complex. Ripe fleshy stone fruits, grapefruit and red delicious apple flesh. Barrel and wood spices add complexity and structure with tannins and acidity wrapping around the core fruit flavours. 2023 through 2029. 97 Points

Poppies Rosé 2021, Martinborough. Very pretty bouquet with aromas and flavours of fresh peach and apricot, there a red apple and papaya tropical note. Acidity fuses all the flavours together with a some very fine chalky tannin mouthfeel. Great balance and length. 2022 through end of summer 2024. 93 Points

Quartz Reef 'Billie Jean' Royal Series Pinot Noir 2019, Bendigo, Central Otago. Flavours of dark cherry and dried raspberry, a spiced plum flesh and spices of the forest and barrel. A fine savoury quality and core earth and mineral statement. Coarse silk tannins and a saline refreshing acid line, barrel spice and earth smoke layer in complexity. 2024 through 2030+. 97 Points

The Landing Chardonnay 2020, Bay of Islands, Northland. An elegant and pure expression with a weighty texture and core fruit flavours of white fleshed orchard fruits laced with grapefruit and light nut barrel flavours of cashew then baking spice. A fine tannin texture with a youthful back-bone of acidity, a touch of gun-flint highlights a mineral note. 2022 through 2028. 94 Points

Misha's Vineyard 'The High Note' Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago. Fabulous fragrance, varietal, youthful, loaded with fruit and statements about mineral and dried herb. French barrel scents layering its voice, but also complexity and power. Delicious on the palate with a core of fruit, but also taut and still new. Everything about the vineyard and its windswept rugged charms are on show. 2026 through 2035+. 96 Points

Pyramid Valley Pinot Noir 2020, North Canterbury. There’s no mistaking the sense of place with aromas of white soil and wild flowers, the varietal signature of red berries with cherry and old strawberry sitting nicely alongside moments of plum then spice. Fine tannins Youthful and new, complex and varietal. 2024 through 2034+. 96 Points

Foxes Island by John Belsham 'La Lapine' Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough. Fabulous bouquet of complexity and development with primary and secondary aromas from preserved lemon to fine lees, some echoes of passion fruit to dried peach, there’s a fine lees and old barrel quality adding breadth and intrigue. Excellent drinking from day of purchase through 2025+. 95 Points

Brick Bay Pinot Gris 2021, Matakana, Auckland. Plush, ripe and intensely varietal bouquet with layers of pears and white spice, apple and lees, fresh quince and mineral with a clay stone quality. A silky texture touches the palate first in an off-dry style, warm and lush with a contrasting acid line. 2022 through 2026+. 93 Points

Matawhero 'Irwin' Chardonnay 2020, Gisborne. Youthful, complex, fruity, varietal and enticing peach and new French oak, baking spice and grapefruit, a clay mineral quality with apple and a whisper of lemon. Full-bodied with a silky-cream texture, very fine wood tannins, a touch of lees spice and cashew nut cream wood quality. 2023 through 2029. 94 Points

Black Barn Vineyards Block 5 Chardonnay 2020, Hawkes Bay. Intriguing, complex and new, primary and loud with a bouquet of yellow peach and baked apple, lemon and grapefruit, new oak, cashew nut and baking spice barrel qualities. Bold and expressive, ripe and smoky. 2023 through 2030+. Overall, a fantastic wine. 95 Points

Black Estate Home Chenin Blanc 2020, North Canterbury. Pure, bright, perfumed, fruity and varietal bouquet. There’s no mistaking the fragrances of apple and mineral, white flowers and fine lees textures in the aromas. Delicious on the palate with a new wine mouthfeel, flavours dance across the palate with the help of the acidity layering in freshness and pizazz as well. 2023 through 2033+. 95 Points

Mount Brown Estates Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2021, North Canterbury. Smoke and toast, roasted yellow stone fruits and ripe grapefruit, vanilla custard quality with a touch of nutmeg. A gun-flint layer will attract many to the youthful complex drive currently at this wines core. Full-bodied, dry and weighty with a creamy mouthfeel, peach and baked apple then grapefruit and mineral gun-flint qualities. 2023 through 2030. 94 Points

The Boneline Sharkstone Chardonnay 2020, Waipara, North Canterbury. A bold and expressive bouquet, peach and vanilla, Brazil nut butter, grapefruit and a distinctive core mineral quality. Fine tannins and youthful acid line showcase the core fruit and plush ripeness, judicious use of oak and mineral centric finish. 2023 through 2030. 95 Points

Burn Cottage Sauvage Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Bannockburn, Central Otago. Complex and new, warm and generous aromas of dark cherry and dried raspberry then core complexity scents of crumbled clay and silty mineral qualities. A taut mouthfeel from acidity and fine needle point tannins in abundance with finesse and power. 2029+. 95 Points

Millton Clos de Ste. Anne La Bas Chenin Blanc 2020, Gisborne. Elegant and sophisticated with core mineral and varietal scents of baked apple and wet chalk, wild white flowers with a touch of quince and sweet lemon. Fantastic on the palate with an equally elegant mouthfeel. 2023 through 2033+. 97 Points

Palliser Estate Hua Nui Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020, Martinborough. Flavours of dark red berry fruits, preserved cherry and old strawberry compote mixed with barrel scents and fine lees-ageing qualities. An abundance of fine needle-point tannins accentuated by acidity and with flavours of baking spices and a mild toasty barrel qualities. 2024 through 2032+. 96 Points

Escarpment Kiwa Pinot Noir 2020, Martinborough. Distinctive earthy mineral qualities with red berry fruits followed by a powerful core scent of hard clay and tilled soil combinations then scents of dried herb and barrel. Dry with polished needle point tannins, medium+ acid line and a lengthy complex finish. 2024 through 2034+. 96 Points

Domain Road Vineyard Defiance Chardonnay 2020, Central Otago. Complex and complete, youthful and layered, a core of fruit and subtle, sweet barrel scents, citrus and peach, apple and flowers, a core of mineral complexity suggesting white clay. Fine wood tannins, complex, lengthy and delicious. 2022 through 2030+. 96 Points

Clos Henri Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Marlborough. A core of minerality suggesting chalk and white spices a then lemon and apple, grapefruit and a fine lees adding complexity. A sense of place with sweet earth and wild white flowers. Excellent mouthfeel and finish this is a delicious wine. 2023 through 2029. 96 Points

Giesen Organic Syrah 2019, Marlborough. A bouquet and palate of dark olive and black currant, there's a fine dried herb quality then flavours of baked field mushroom, a smoky pepper quality then flavours of leather and dark plum, five spice and anise. Great texture and polish from tannins and acidity with a lengthy finish. 2024 through 2032+. 95 Points

Church Road 1 Cabernet 2020, Hawkes Bay. Violets and cassis, dark plums and black berry fruits. Sweet oak scents with toasty smoky qualities, some cocoa and stony gravel suggestions with an iron sand note. Power and intensity on the palate with fruit and oak spices, gravel earth and dark berry flavours, firm tannins and plenty of acidity. 2025 through 2035+. 95 Points

Valli Waitaki Pinot Noir 2021, North Otago. Fantastic bouquet with fragrances of mineral and spice, dried herb and a core of dark cherry and raspberry. A highly textured wine with an abundance of fine chalky tannins, polished and ripe then an acid line that carries the core fruit flavours through a lengthy and delicious finish. 2023 through 2030. 96 Points