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Candice Wine Chat for Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Apr 2024

'Bright, even, pale coral. The nose is gently full with depth and elegance, penetrating with aromas of red berries, plums, blood orange, rose petals and savoury nuances. Medium-bodied, aromas of plums and red berries are concentrated, melded with rose petals, blood orange spice and a savoury, meaty quality. The fruit displays multilayers of flavour and depth; spices linger with rose petals to a long, crisp finish. Match with bresaola and beef carpaccio over the next 2-3 years.'

A blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc, fermented to 12.4% alc.

NZ Wine Directory

'A blend of Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Bright clear, pale salmon pink in colour, medium bodied. Aromatic nose of red berries, white stone-fruit, apple, savoury & spice notes. Lots of red berries, cherry, red stone-fruit & spice flavours on the palate, a crisp acidity & nice grippy textural / mineral elements. Long intense, bone-dry finish.'

5 Stars, #1 GOLD, Dish Magazine

A truly complex, modern, mix-em-up style that had our judges talking immediately. Ultra-pale and showing Provence-style peppercorn, spice and delicate red fruit flavours alongside nutty notes, dried herb and smoked citrus zest followed by a long biscuity finish. Fun and funky ' 

Cameron Douglas, MS, Premium 92 Points

'Made with Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc there’s a bouquet of ripe red apple and cherries, there’s a cranberry and sweet strawberry note then clay and other mineral qualities. On the palate a dry wine with plenty of texture from acidity and lees management then flavours of red berries and a gentle white spice note. Well made, new and refreshing with a light salty saline quality. Best drinking from 2023 through early 2025.'

NZ Wine Directory

'Merlot / Malbec / Cabernet Franc blend. Very pale salmon-pink coloured wine - a lighter viscosity (legs) present, medium bodied. The nose is fragrant with aromas of sweet apple, red berries & a savoury herb note. On the palate there's a crisp acidity, flavours of sweet red berries & a hint of spice, "apple skin" textural / mineral elements and a long, intense bone-dry finish. A delicious wine to start with for NZ Rosé Day'

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Cameron Douglas, MS, Excellent- 94 points

'Aromas and flavours of fresh peaches and ripe citrus, red apple and a fine lees complexity. Oak layers in a baking spice and gentle toasted barrel quality. Delicious on the palate with a coarse-silk texture, near full-bodied mouthfeel and flavours of citrus and yellow stone fruits. A layer of barrel spice combined with lees and acidity make for a textured and flavourful wine. Well made with a decent length and complexity. Best drinking from the day of purchase through 2027.'

NZ Wine Directory

'The Basket Case Southern Clays, Chardonnay 2021, Marlborough NZ
Once I got the wax off, the wine is bright clear lemon - gold in colour. Immediate notes of struck match / smoke in the nose then toasty oak, ripe stone-fruit & biscuity, nutty aromas. Beautifully textured palate with grapefruit, citrus & ripe stone-fruit flavours, a refreshing acid backbone, slight creamy malo & some oak / spice influence adding complexity - long concentrated finish with nice warmth from 14% abv. Fruit from a special Southern Clays vineyard in Marlborough shipped to their Clevedon winery in Auckland. Whole bunch pressed straight to French Oak barrels, 30% new. Wild ferment, partial malo, then 10 months unsulphured in barrel. An excellent tasty complex.'

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Cameron Douglas, MS, Premium 92 Points

'Bright, varietal and fresh bouquet with scents of black cherry and boysenberry, plums and a mix of spices from fruit and some wood. On the palate a dry wine with layers of spiced red berry fruits and cherry flesh, with a fine savoury dried herb quality. Moderate complexity and length which I expect will lengthen as the wine matures more in your cellar. Best drinking from early 2024 through 2030'

NZ Wine Directory

'Deep cherry red in colour, paler at the rim, medium+ bodied. In the nose there's aromas of ripe plums, cherries, dark berries, spice & a little green herb / savoury note. On the palate there's juicy berry & cherry fruit flavours reflecting the nose while chalky tannins, a good grippy acidity & toasty oak spice components are all nicely integrated. Mouth-watering juicy fruity bone dry finish. Fruit from a Southern Clays vineyard in Marlborough, shipped to their Clevedon winery in Auckland. 5% whole bunch, 2.5% whole berry pressed, the rest de-stemmed. A wild ferment, on skins for 17 days was plunged daily, 14 months in French Oak, 35% new.'

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Cameron Douglas, MS, Premium, 92 points

'A true field blend bouquet with aromas of myriad red berries and violets, layers of baked nut and a gentle touch of French oak showing clove and vanilla scents. Dry on the palate with medium+ weight and intensity, flavours of plums and black berry fruits then more violets and clay soil flavours. Firm textures from tannins and acidity offer this wine ageing attributes backed up by core red berry fruit flavours that reflect the bouquet. A lovely example best enjoyed with higher protein foods. Ideal drinking window from 2024 through 2030.'