New Zealand
2022 Felton Road, Cornish Point Pinot Noir, Central Otago 6x75cl
"How can one not love that instant bath of flowers, fruits and spice that this wine delivers? No holding back, no reticence at all, just a wash of Cornish Point indulgence - all leading to a flowing... silky finish. Through the entire palate there is a gentle mineral seam that stops anything from tipping over into excess, so it seduces rather than hollers. There will be no lack of complexity to come for those with patience, but it is very hard to resist now." (Felton Road tasting note)
Felton Road tasting Note
£270 / Case£45 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2022 Felton Road, Pinot Noir Calvert, Central Otago 6x75cl
Duty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Felton Road, MacMuir Pinot Noir, Central Otago 6x75cl
"Sometimes it can be hard to find a word to match what seems so clear to the senses. The nose is dark, as is the colour, beguiling, but restrained. There is a stature to the palate here; a sort of... authority to the way it stands back and allows you to explore its detail. A definite sprig of herbs, chocolate notes, but still so transparent that every nuance is revealed. It seems extraordinary that this is just the second time we’ve made MacMuir as a single vineyard release: it’s Felton Road, to be sure, but in a different dimension." (Felton Road tasting note)
Felton Road tasting Note
£295 / Case£49.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Kumeu River, Rays Road Chardonnay, Kumeu 6x75cl
Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. This limestone hillside is at 180 m altitude, with a northerly aspect. It is dry-farmed to yield high quality grapes for wine under the... Rays Road name for our Kumeu River label. This Chardonnay was hand-harvested, whole bunch pressed and fermented with wild yeast in older French Oak barrels to give a wine that is zesty and fragrant, with mineral complexity that is very true to its site. (Kumeu River notes)
£87.50 / Case£14.58 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2022 Felton Road, Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago 6x75cl
"A vivid nose of deep florals: dark roses, violets, and an undertow of ripe red fruit. The palate really shows the best of each vineyard that makes up the cuvée. A pure but powerful drive of fruit... on a perfect cusp of ripeness, with complexing notes of sandalwood and spice. This is all about harmony and balance with the transparency of fruit allowing the detail to shine through. Silken tannins finish the package." Felton Road tasting note
£215 / Case£35.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2022 Kumeu River, Village Chardonnay, Kumeu 12x75cl
" With fruit taken from six carefully selected sites in Hawkes Bay and Kumeu, the Village Chardonnay is simply a must have in the fridge. There are hints of butter on the nose with very delicate... apricot and pineapple notes wafting through as well. The zing of acidity on the palate immediately livens the mood, and it has a steely, linear and mineral style, not dissimilar to a fine Chablis from a good vintage. This is excellent wine made in a very classic style. Not fancy or blousy at all - just a clean citrus delight that will have you scrambling for the seafood and looking for your second bottle".
Mr Wheeler tasting note.
£120 / Case£10 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Kumeu River, Mates Vineyard Chardonnay, Kumeu 6x75cl
" The flagship wine of the estate, Maté's was originally planted by Maté Brajkovich in 1990 with the first grapes from this exceptional, sheltered site in the clay foothills of Hunting Hill slopes... used in 1993. For a wine of this stature and tender years it is already surprisingly expressive on the nose. Butterscotch and toasted brioche to the fore, yet this this is balanced by beautifully textured, mineral lemon and lime fruit with an underlying elegance and minerality that will easily go head-to head with, and seduce lovers of the Grands Crus in Puligny and Chassagne. Patience is required in spades here; leave it for 7 to 10 years to really express the sense of place for this very special vineyard and you will not be disappointed. But also defend it judiciously with a few cases of the Estate or Ray’s Road so you can enjoy the wares of this fantastic estate whilst this masterpiece matures"
Mr Wheeler tasting note.
Duty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Kumeu River, Rays Road Chardonnay, Kumeu 6x75cl
" Rays Road is Kumeu River’s new vineyard site in Hawkes Bay. Hints of butter, fresh cream and white flowers on the nose lead you to the correct conclusion that this was exclusively fermented in... old oak barrels. Balance is the key here however, as the limestone soil of site has a profound effect on the style of the wine. Lime leaf and steely linearity provide the backbone to this fragrant and zesty expression, with the gentle oak maturation it undertakes for 11 months providing a delightful creamy wrapper around this complex and elegant wine"
Mr Wheeler tasting note.
£95 / Case£15.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Kumeu River, Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu 6x75cl
"The most Puligny-like of the single vineyards opens up with a gorgeously elegant nose of citrus and acacia flower, followed on the palate by a crème fraiche texture and zesty lime notes, and the... tell-tale spine of incredibly fine acidity that characterizes this clay terroir. Pause to let the wine express itself and Wow! it build and builds, that structure carrying through the impressively long finish with layer upon layer of flavour. Absolutely stunning."
Mr Wheeler tasting note.
Duty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Kumeu River, Estate Chardonnay, Kumeu 6x75cl
" The cuvée that built Kumeu River’s reputation in the 1980s, long before any of the single vineyards were ever produced, and to this day it is easy to see why. The consistency is simply... awe-inspiring, and the 2022 displays superb balance, subtle notes of very smart oak bringing a counterpoint to the gorgeous, creamy palate and zingy acidity. This oozes class and breeding, the acidity supplies perfect structure for medium to long-term ageing and carries the long finish. What a finish, too - rich and lifted all at once, with fabulous energy. Yum!"
Mr Wheeler tasting note.
Duty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Kumeu River, Hunting Hill Chardonnay, Kumeu 3x150cl
"Possibly the most complete Hunting Hill Chardonnay I've tasted in youth, the 2020 provides harmonious, melt-in-your-mouth impression. It has breadth and concentration but retains a sense of... elegance on the midpalate before finishing with precision and length. Yes, there's a little bit of flint character too, but then Hunting Hill is known to be reductive; give it time. Like Forrest Gump, it runs through a finish line and keeps on going effortlessly. There's no box of chocolates here, though; it's all white nectarine, citrus, white flowers and o touch of smoked nuts." 95 pts., Rebecca Gibb MW, vinous.com
£225 / Case£75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2019 Cloudy Bay, Pinot Noir, Marlborough 6x75cl
"A ripe, aromatic and satisfying style. Full and mouth-filling, it glides along the palate and slips down easier than a cartoon character on a banana skin. There are no edges to this wine - it's all... roundness and perfect for guzzling now. Flavor-wise, cherry fruit and damson skin meet vanilla pod. Is it a challenging, academic style that will titillate wine snobs? No. Can you drink a shed-load of it and feel content? Yes. " Rebecca Gibb, vinous.com
£130 / Case£21.67 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate