Meredith Moody

9.0

The lemonade of wines! I am a big sauvignon blanc fan, but my parents never really drink ones from New Zealand, and this made me wish I had known about it sooner. So refreshing and almost makes you pucker with how tart it is. This wine begs to be drank by the pool. Grapefruit forward, but had a grassy and herbal note that kept it grounded. Clean, acidic and crisp. I would serve this colder than class has taught me to because it is a summer delight. — 2 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Enjoyed at our friend’s on the Big Island for NYE dinner. Dark and opaque. Rich in the mouth. Notes of black fruit, slate stone, some menthol and some five spice. In a good window. — 3 years ago

Scott Spitzer

9.3

Tons of big, bright passionfruit aromas with hints of fresh-squeezed lemon. Perky, bright acidity. Very nice. — 5 years ago

Jesse Hutchison

9.0

Big melon up front, subtle citrus on the tail. Great with seafood. — 6 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Have always been a big fan of New Zealand Chardonnays. This Neudorf has a very funky toasty nose with lees stirring in evidence. Owned by Judy and Tim Finn, nothing to do with NZ rock band , Crowded House. On the palate some vanillan oak and Buttery notes. Medium intensity and medium acid. A very well made Chardonnay with complexity at this young age. Bob Campbell a Master of Wine from NZ gave this 99 points. — 7 years ago

Keith Crump

8.9

Big grapefruit medium length not my favourite style — 7 years ago

Weijie Shi (Jay)

9.3

Top quality Marlborough Pinot. Big structure and beautiful balance. Smooth like feather. Still young. — 8 years ago

Lawrence Bernstein

8.9

12/25 wine was nicely resolved after 15 years. Big, rich, dark wine. 89 — 6 months ago

Jonathan Wall

9.3

Big ratings on this… though I found it a bit hot and acidic day one. Day two however was a dream… soft yet deep. — 3 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

A cellar release from Dry River I bought a few years ago. Mid to deep crimson with a hint of tawniness. Great intensity - ripe strawberry - liquorice notes - savoury and sweet at the same time. A strange thing to say but it doesn’t scream Pinot Noir. Grainy tannins. Similar experience as with previous Dry River Pinots to be robust, muscular and contained. Following day big and savoury - I stand by yesterday’s note. A great drink but lacks Pinosity. At least Bob Campbell MW liked it giving it 99 points. — 4 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Generally regarded as New Zealand’s best expression of a left bank Bordeaux blend. This is a dense Ruby red in colour. Aromas of cedar, cassis, mint, leafy and a menthol note - generally classic left bank descriptors. Quite balanced - a medium plus weight palate - medium tannins and acid. Still a good future into the late 20’s or early 2030s. Sam Kim, who is a NZ wine taster and commentator described this wine on release as the greatest wine ever released in New Zealand which was a big call at the time. Bob Campbell MW said “Coleraine doesn’t get much better than this. “ — 6 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Well integrated Cabernet Franc. Dark plum and blackberry fruit flavors. Big hints of green pepper with notes of earth and slate. A bit of a medicinal flavor on the finish. Low acid and can be served chilled. One of their last Long Island vintages. — 7 years ago

with Mark, Tom and 2 others

Randy Fuller

9.1

The 2018 Loveblock Sauvignon Blanc comes from the hilltops above Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. It shows 12.5% abv and sells for $22. Erica Crawford says, “New Zealand’s signature varietal tends to be bold and big,” thanks in no small part to her husband. This wine, she says, “focuses on texture rather than enhanced aromatics.” It went through 25% malolactic fermentation in order to soften the wine. Sure enough, it’s tamer and fruitier on the nose than their previous efforts. The minerals are still there, but the sometimes overwhelming greenness is replaced by a great fruit flavor. The 2017 vintage is a little grassier on the nose and palate, but still mild in comparison to the earlier profile. — 7 years ago

Austin Moberg

9.3

Delicious super rich and creamy loaded with dark chocolate, toffee, coffee, and some raisin. Big fan of these after today wanting to try their unique releases now. — 2 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

Red and black fruits - cherry. Generally muted on the nose, even the following day. A big Pinot on the palate - it needed to be with curried prawns with plenty of heat. The following day similar notes - a good accompaniment to strong flavoured foods. Medium + savoury notes on the palate , yet to fully blossom, with fine Sandy tannins. A couple more years in the cellar would be beneficial. 99 points from Kiwi wine scribe, Bob Campbell MW. — 3 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

Still a bit surly but massive potential. A big and serious nose of reductive smoke, apple, cut grass, and lemon. This is a full bodied powerful wine but there is still a feeling that there is more to come once this properly unfurls. Sour apple, mealy bread, wrapped in toffee. Creamy, but with a solid steak of sour acidity. Amazing length. True GC structure but 5+ years to truly express itself. — 4 years ago

Kyle Fletcher

8.9

Possibly hypo allergenic too - big win — 6 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

The second bottle from NZ trip. Singing. Big nose. Sandalwood with spice and dark fruit on the nose. Sweet, fruit forward, and very typical Gibbston flavour profile. Still lots of fine tannin left but fruit has fully evolved. Hot vintage? . Excellent. , — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Big Wave Dave

8.9

Very fresh. Typical Rippon plumb and black cherry notes but much more angular and youthful than the big brothers. All the structure without much of the fruit. — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Craig Mitchell

9.0

It’s a big fella. Fruit forward, rich wine. Enjoyable but not subtle! 🍷 — 8 years ago