What else I have been drinking lately

Caythorpe Family Estate Chardonnay 2021, Marlborough. Aromas and flavours of fresh peach and grapefruit, a red apple and oak spice combination reveal the classic ripe white fleshed fruit, nut and barrel flavours enjoyed by so many. Lovely weight and mouthfeel with a fine satin-cream texture, medium+ acid line and core fruit flavours complement the freshness and style with a seamless presentation. Balanced and well made with a decent and lengthy finish, best drinking from 2023 through 2027. RRP from $50.00

Pyramid Valley Rosé 2022, North Canterbury. Few rosé wines can be labelled as elegant - yet this wine has a wonderful elegant bouquet with scents of flowers and strawberries, red apple skin and a core of minerality. Satin smooth as the wine touches the palate, super fine fruit tannins, refreshing and slightly saline with plenty of acidity and contrasting fruits flavours that reflect the bouquet. Bright, youthful and delicious. Best drinking from day of purchase through end of summer 2025. RRP from $36.95

Equilibrium Pinot Noir 2021, Te Muna, Martinborough. Varietal bouquet with dark fruits of plums and then raspberry and moments of black cherry. Layers of oak then flowers emerge after some time in glass. Firm and dry as the wine touches the palate with chalky dusty tannins, a back bone of acidity and layers of lees, nut and oak. A youthful and very promising example, well made with a lengthy finish. Best drinking from 2025 through 2030+. Before then some food with obvious protein will pair well. RRP from $39.00

Destiny Bay 'Magna Praema' 2020, Waiheke Island, Auckland. Opaque core with dark purple hues and bright pink rim. The bouquet is incredible; concentrated and focused led by aromas of dark plums and blackberries, smoky chocolate and sweet toasty wood, violets and olive, sweet tobacco and iron. Taut and dry as the wine touches the palate with a quick change to fruit flavours that mirror the bouquet. Tannins are ripe, in abundance and need time to settle more and integrate. Acidity sets the back bone in place and the flavours of chocolate and violets then red fruit flavours return in waves. An excellent wine that needs your cellar to mature. best drinking from 2028 through 2040+. RRP from $600.00

Chateau Mon-Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019. Rhone Valley, France. Made with Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc Roussane and Picpoul this wine has a distinctive bouquet of mineral with a saline and stone quality then flavours of white fleshed and citrus fruits, a complexity from lees, back bone of acidity and robust mouthfeel. This wine has zero oak so has a pure, natural flavours profile, is an excellent wine as an aperitif or with moderately weighted starters or seafood with low spice levels. RRP from $64.99.