Roger Custer

9.3

Nice spicy red wine with hints of strawberry and raspberry, tanic but not too much, and nice smoky finish — a month ago

Brian Ager

9.1

This NZ Sauvignon is more balanced and complex than your standard. Hailing from Hawkes Bay which is cooler climate than Marlborough it showcases passionfruit, grapefruit, gooseberry across the nose with a well balanced palate adding a layer of minerality though a smooth finish. Excellent wine and wonderful pairing with fresh tomato basil pasta! [7/18/22] ($11) — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Sulphidic notes diminishing. A great combination of citrus and stone fruit plus some grilled nuts in the aromatics. The palate shows those same fruit characteristics with M minus acid and M plus palate intensity. A good Chardonnay from Hawkes Bay, better known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. This is good but I prefer their Reds. Bought at the winery in January 2016 where we were lucky to meet the owner John Buck. — 7 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.3

Very intense Shiraz. Leave this open one hour before consuming and it will achieve balance. It should be consumed with lamb. After an hour, the overly peppery finish calms down leaving an elegant Shiraz. An excellent buy. — 3 months ago

romo

9.0

Banana yeast strawberry creamsicle. — 5 months ago

sam frendo

9.0

Melon and pear drops. Well balanced and fruity. Very enjoyable — 6 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

Red and black fruited perfume - Left Bank Bordeaux aromas and flavours. On the palate quite plush yet restrained and not as full bodied as I was hoping for. 2011 was a difficult wet vintage in many parts of Australia. I wonder if it was the same in NZ? Bob Campbell MW said 2011 was “moderately challenging “. in NZ. Nevertheless a polished wine. Postscript: I notice that Jancis compared the Sophia as a “generous antipodean answer to Pichon Lalande “ for the 2013 vintage of Sophia. — 8 months ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Medium deep ruby quite wide ruby , pink rim . Quite peppery black cherry jam , smoky bacon , dried herbs , touch of violet . On the palate quite cool and refreshing , those dark cherry fruits and black pepper notes , touch of anis and herbs . Quite prominent acidity and linear in mouth feel , slightly bitter quite dry tannins, balanced alcohol . Ok length with a peppery , quite lean finish . Elegant and reserved in style . This is drinking well now and over the next 5 years. — 4 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

See previous note of 140 weeks ago. Notes of Cedar, cassis - red and black berries. An elegant very Left Bank Bordeaux style - fine dry tannins. New Zealand’s finest Cabernet blend I believe, from Hawkes Bay. — 6 months ago

Ash & Chris

8.9

Good, but we did have it as a Spritzer — 7 months ago