Wine Tasting Notes
We want your recipient to LOVE their gift, and we know that wine tastes can vary.
Which is why we make it easy to change out the wine selection in each gift box to suit personal preferences.
Below are some notes on each of the different wines that we offer to help with your selection.
WHITE WINE
The Ned Pinot Gris 750ml
The brainchild of winemaker Brent Marris, of Wither Hills fame, the Ned by Marisco vineyards is located at the top of New Zealand's South island in Marlborough. The Ned was a product of Brent Marris' vision to turn a vineyard property into an iconic hub of a future winery, and the brand continues to push the boundaries and get the best out of this variety.
The Ned 2014 Pinot Gris delivers up layers of ginger spice and ripe persimmon flavour, with the persistent floral lift of old fashioned roses. A nose of pear drop, blossom and nectarine leading to a palate that is softer, richer and more tropical in flavour than its European counterpart. Extended skin contact on a selection of the ripest fruit parcels is essential for promoting the signature coral pink colour of The Ned Pinot Gris. Equally important is the positive effect this technique has on enhancing the wine’s overall richness and mouth feel, providing the perfect counterpoint to the fine and slightly drying tannin texture that dominates the long, spicy finish.
A highly versatile food wine, this will taste great alongside all manner of fresh salads and creamy pastas.
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 750ml
Marisco Vineyards, home of world renowned brands The Ned & The Kings Series, is located in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough - a location which provides a near perfect environment for producing wines of startling character. Owned and operated by Brent (Chief Winemaker) and Rosemary Marris, Marisco vineyards is a progressive wine company committed to building brands and taking the unique Marlborough wine story to the world.
Vibrant aromatic notes of lemongrass and Kaffir lime zest leap from the glass, leaving you in no doubt, this is classic Waihopai Sauvignon Blanc. The citrus fuelled aromatic thread that dominates the nose, carries through to the palate with concentrated flavours of mandarin and musky pink grapefruit, all threaded beautifully by a pristine, mineral acidity.
Drink now with fresh salads, seafood or oriental food. Try a fresh green salad that contrasts the spicy crunch of watercress with the savoury creaminess of Chevre, or for something a little more substantial, a crayfish risotto with garden fresh peas and asparagus.
Triplebank Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 750ml
Brancott Estate’s Triplebank vineyard on the southern side of the Awatere River can be counted on for wines with striking vivacity.
A tone of grapefruit freshness on the nose, and juicy flavours packed with a zesty citrus vibrancy - lemon, lime, mandarin and a fleshy pineapple juiciness too. Passionfruit, melon, gooseberry and cut grass aromas carry through to the bright zingy palate with underlying snow pea, tomato stalk and summer herbs and a refreshing crisp dry finish. Fresh, juicy, delicious with love-it-or-hate-it Marlborough sweat!
A stunning wine to accompany to tomato, rocket, feta and basil salad.
Crafters Union Sauvignon Blanc 750ml
Using a range of vineyard blocks in Marlborough, Crafters Union have crafted a complex blend that showcases New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
This elegant wine is all you love about Marlborough, amplified. Up front it shows vibrant gooseberry & zesty citrus notes before delivering a pronounced palate bursting with tropical fruit and juicy acidity. Crisp and utterly delicious.
The perfect match to a fresh salad sprinkled with hefty amounts of goats cheese and feta.
The Ned Pinot Rose 750ml
The brainchild of winemaker Brent Marris, of Wither Hills fame, the Ned by Marisco vineyards is located at the top of New Zealand's South island in Marlborough. The Ned was a product of Brent Marris' vision to turn a vineyard property into an iconic hub of a future winery, and the brand continues to push the boundaries and get the best out of this variety.
The aroma of The Ned Pinot Rose offers up a classic bouquet of red berries and cream, enriched by a broader element of tree-ripened persimmon with high-toned, rose-tinged notes. The palate is neatly rounded, with a fleshy mouthful with that same creamy, summer berry fruits running through its core; all neatly balanced with bright, crisp acidity.
A perfect match for seafood based rice dishes like risotto or paella.
SPARKLING AND CHAMPAGNE
Daniel Le Brun Methode Champenoise NV Brut 750ml
Daniel Le Brun represents best in class New Zealand méthode – the finest Marlborough grapes crafted to the traditional French recipe. Heralding from Marlborough, the pioneering history of Daniel Le Brun is one of hard graft, sheer tenacity and a drive for excellence. The culmination of 12 generations of French champagne-making experience, Daniel Le Brun has an enviable pedigree that combined with its Marlborough provenance (arguably one of the world’s best sparkling wine-growing regions outside of Champagne itself) creates this award-winning New Zealand méthode.
A bright straw colour with a steady bead of small bubbles offers a fine and persistent mousse. The aromatics consist of clean, fresh strawberry, citrus and orange peel balanced with complex biscuit and bread characters. The palate offers fresh and lively acidity showing perfect integration of yeast-derived autolysis and nutty characters accompanied with elegant primary fruit flavours.
Serve as an aperitif or alongside delicately flavoured seafood such as scallops or oysters.
Morton Estate Premium Methode Champenoise NV Brut 750ml
Morton Estates vineyards are concentrated in Hawkes Bay on the East coast of the North Island, and Marlborough on the Northern tip of the South Island, both well-recognised regions for producing outstanding white wines. As an independent, privately owned company, Morton Estate is fiercely committed to wine making as an art, not just as a business.
A complex style with nutty flavours and a foaming creamy texture, it's delicate in its attack yet has lots of body and is persistent in its lingering flavour. Nutty, creamy, lightly floral with a hint of strawberry add subtle sweetness to the finish, offering sophisticated drinking.
Match with seafood or light poultry, or as an aperitif.
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut 200ml
Launched in 1974 and packaged in a specially ground, distinctive black bottle, Cordon Negro became a huge success for Freixenet and served as its flagship product. Produced in the Methode Champenoise tradition - the bottle you pour from is the one the wine was fermented in - Freixenet is a phenomenon, in Spain and across the globe.
A fine, persistent and abundant sparkle lifting to a good crown. Fine, delicate aromas, combining tones of green apple and pear, with light resonances of Mediterranean fruits - peach, melon and pineapple, over a base of citrus, all beautifully balanced by light toasty aromas from bottle maturation. The palate is refreshing, and the finish is long and elegant.
A great match for pre-dinner cocktails, or pair with light poultry and seafood dishes.
Mumm Cordon Rouge Champagne Brut 750ml
G. H. Mumm, situated in Reims in northern France, is one of the largest Champagne producers. Since 1827, the history of G. H. Mumm Champagne details a century and a half of passion. The flagship of the House of G. H. Mumm has long been associated with celebration, refinement, prestige and joie de vivre.
This champagne is a brightly sparkling, light golden yellow liquid with an abundance of fine and elegant bubbles. The nose reveals initial aromas of ripe fresh fruit (white and yellow peaches, apricots) and tropical notes of lychee and pineapple. It then opens up with the fragrance of vanilla before developing notes of milky caramel, breadcrumbs and yeast, culminating in aromas of dried fruit and honey. An explosion of freshness in the mouth, followed by strong persistence. The complex aromas of fresh fruit and caramel perpetuate the intensity.
Enjoy alongside hors d’oeuvres such as savoury puff pastries, canapés and tapas.
Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne 750ml
Moët Impérial is the House’s iconic champagne. Created in 1869, it embodies Moët & Chandon’s unique style, a style distinguished by its bright fruitiness, its seductive palate and its elegant maturity.
Created from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grape varieties, this champagne is a golden straw yellow with green highlights. A sparkly bouquet with the vibrant intensity of green apple and citrus fruit, the freshness of mineral nuances and white flowers and the elegance of blond notes (brioche, cereal, fresh nuts). A generous palate combining sumptuous white-fleshed fruits (pear, peach, apple), an alluring caress of fine bubbles, the soft vivacity of citrus fruit and nuances of gooseberry.
Can be served throughout a meal, from aperitif to dessert, and pairs perfectly with sushi, scallops, oysters, white fish, white meats (such as roasted free range chicken au jus with fines herbs) and white fruits (such as a white peach tart served with a light, white chocolate cream)
RED WINE
Brancott Estate Terroir Series Pinot Noir 750ml
More than 30 years after this vineyard introduced the world to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a wine style unlike anything experienced before, this vineyard continues to craft award-winning wines loved all over the world.
Made from carefully selected blocks in the Awatere Valley, this Pinot Noir is a very elegant wine with lifted berry aromatics and a juicy palate; true to origins, it showcases what the Awatere Valley wines can offer us. This wine is deep, garnet red in colour. The nose presents lifted violets and blueberry aromas complemented by raspberry liquorice with hints of anise. The palate is rich and tangy with juicy forest berries and subtle savoury oak notes finishing with very silky tannins.
Perfect for dinner parties, this wine will be a great match for delicate meat dishes, field mushrooms risottos and roasted root vegetable salads.
The Ned Pinot Noir 750ml
Marisco Vineyards, home of world renowned brands The Ned & The Kings Series, is located in the Waihopai Valley, Marlborough - a location which provides a near perfect environment for producing wines of startling character. Owned and operated by Brent (Chief Winemaker) and Rosemary Marris, Marisco vineyards is a progressive wine company committed to building brands and taking the unique Marlborough wine story to the world.
Another fantastically warm Marlborough growing season has yielded a ripe, dense fruit-based bouquet reminiscent of mixed summer berry fruits, underpinned by darker, more savoury elements of leaf mulch and smoke. As with the aroma, the palate is very much centred on a core of dense, ripe berry fruit flavour wrapped up in this super supple, silken tannin texture that harbours just enough acid freshness to keep things bright and lively. Whilst dangerously drinkable on release this wine will become deeper, rounder and more complex with careful cellaring over the next five to seven years.
A food match is the most classic of Kiwi wine and food combo’s; herb encrusted lamb racks served with hasselback potatoes and your favourite new season green vegetables.
Crafters Union Pinot Noir 750ml
Mostly from the continental McArthur Ridge in Alexandra, the slopes in this region provide ideal sun exposure for the Crafters Union Pinot Noir vines. Grapes were de-stemmed in field during harvest and spent an average of 16 days on skins, uncrushed, to develop the complex berry fruit flavours.
This Pinot Noir has it all. With heady aromas of fresh raspberries and blackberries, the palate shines with cherries and super soft tannins. The result is a wine rich in character and smooth on the finish. Depth, finesse and distinctively Central Otago.
The perfect pairing with duck, chocolate and figs.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 750ml
Since its first vintage in 1976, Koonunga Hill's reputation has been built upon its affordable price and approachability in its youth, with the potential to develop if carefully cellared. Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet is very much a reflection of the Penfolds winemaking style and philosophy.
Sourced from premium vineyards across South Australia, the wine is known for its full-flavoured style with excellent Shiraz and Cabernet fruit, firm yet well-rounded structure and balanced oak. Made as a traditional 'Australian blend', the Shiraz component provides fleshy fruit flavour while Cabernet provides a frame of fine grained tannins. Dark sour-cherry, blackberry, rhubarb fruits abound. Aromas of malt/oats/wheat germ with a green olive and pomegranate alert. A white chocolate mousse/creamy dairy chocolate flavour/texture amalgam. On the finish, a charry/smokey impression.
A great barbeque wine, pair this with beef, lamb and spicy foods, as well as mature and hard cheese.
Church Road Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 750ml
Church Road wines are produced at the third-oldest working winery in the country, established in 1897. Made from an outstanding vineyard resource in Hawke’s Bay, Church Road aim to produce textural and complex wines that marry the ripe fruit flavours of Hawke’s Bay grapes with the subtle nuances obtained from the traditional winemaking techniques.
Densely coloured red with a core of dark plum overlaid with the fragrance of violets, cardamom, lavender and cedar, while oak delivers dark chocolate and vanilla undertones. On the palate the wine is full bodied and fleshy with fine grained tannins giving excellent length and structure.
This wine is the ultimate match for savoury game and red meat dishes. If designing a meal to match this wine, think savoury and avoid any overtly sweet sauces. Serve at approximately 18°C.
Crafters Union Shiraz 750ml
Produced with grapes in the McLaren Vale region, Crafters Union Shiraz is fermented on skins for between 8-15 days then transferred to American and French Oak barrels, then maturing another 12 months before bottling. The result? A mouth full of spicy, berry flavours, ripe aromas, and a long finish.
This Shiraz is a McLaren Vale showcase. Blackberry, spice and plum aromas ooze from this deeply coloured wine, supporting a palate of rich, concentrated fruits that intertwine harmoniously with oak and spice. A wine of power, beauty and outstanding taste.
Pair with a hearty beef stew or grilled lamb brisket for the perfect match.
