Highly Recommended

(continued) 90–94pts

The Darling, Organic, Marlborough 2016 91 MB 95 BC 91 CD 88 £17.99 Ocado This flinty, crunchy and all-round appealing wine has aromas and flavours of peaches and apples. It retains its varietal character of capsicum and tree fruit. A balanced wine.

Drink 2017-2021 Alc 13.5%

Delta, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 95 BC 86 CD 90 £13.99 Hay Wines, The New Zealand House of Wine A classic bouquet of ripe pink grapefruit, crisp apple and a layer of tropical fruit; juicy, fresh, vibrant and with just enough concentration. Bags of personality. Drink 2017-2021 Alc 13%

Hãhã, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 92 BC 88 CD 91 £11.50-£15 Imperial Wine Co, Vinarius, VinumTerra This has real guava enticement. The bouquet is full of ripe citrus and tree fruits. Ripe lemon and grapefruit, some sweet herb and a touch of flint make this a concentrated, energetic and clean wine. Drink 2017-2021 Alc 13%

Palliser Estate, Martinborough, Wairarapa 2016 90 MB 88 BC 90 CD 93 £15.20 The New Zealand Cellar This is a very fruity wine with plenty of fruit concentration, spice and lees characteristics on the nose and mouth. Lime, nectarine, lemon and white peach are just some of the flavours that continue through the palate and on to the finish. Drink 2017-2023 Alc 13.5%

Waipara Springs, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury 2015 91 MB 88 BC 92 CD 92 £13.10 D Byrne & Co, Frontier, Gerrard Seel, Promotion Wine, Waples Wines This fresh wine with high energy, citrus, mineral and nutty oak character really pulls through. There’s great acidity and length, quite pure. Drink 2017-2021 Alc 14%

Harwood Hall, Marlborough 2015 90 MB 92 BC 90 CD 89 £15 Top Selection An intense wine with elegant softness. Fruity and fresh, lively, with fresh herbs, citrus and peach notes. The length is full and vibrant and balances beautifully with the lively acidity present. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 13.5%

Stanley Estates, Awatere Valley, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 88 BC 93 CD 90 £15.75 D Byrne & Co, Dunell’s, Frontier, Promotion Wine, The Halifax Wine Co, The Wine Room, Vagabond Flavoursome style, with lime zest, gooseberry and cut grass flavours. Intense red and green apple with tropical fruit notes, loads of acidity and nice balance. Drink 2017-2021 Alc 13.5%

Ata Rangi, Martinborough, Wairarapa 2016 90 MB 90 BC 90 CD 90 £15.55-£17.99 Exel, Liberty Wines, Oz Wines, The New Zealand Cellar This is a pleasing and enticing wine with beautifully constructed fruits, fleshy and fresh. A crisp apple flavour dominates, Granny Smith perhaps, which adds nuance and acidity to this elegant wine. Drink 2017-2023 Alc 12.5%

Eradus, Awatere Valley, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 88 BC 92 CD 90 £13.25 Corney & Barrow This wine has a typical Awatere Valley style of cut grass, nettle, mineral and passion fruit flavours. There’s decent acidity on the palate too, making this a nice, refreshing example.

Drink 2017-2021 Alc 13.5%

Opawa, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 90 BC 90 DC 90 £12.99 Amazon, Selfridges This is a weighty, flavoursome Sauvignon Blanc with beautiful fruit character; passion fruit, melon, red capsicum and tropical fruit flavours lead into a refreshing, balanced, even finish. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 13%

Vidal, Reserve, Marlborough 2016 90 MB 90 BC 91 CD 90 £16.05 Ann et Vin, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Define Food & Wine, The Devine Wine Co, The Vinorium This has a rich, fruity, varietal and engaging bouquet with layers of herbs and grass. The palate follows the theme, with flavours of peach and citrus, some lees texture, ripe acidity and a hint of sweetness. Drink 2017-2020 Alc 13%

‘Some wines we tasted showed you could push the boundaries a little bit, but not too much’ Cameron Douglas MS