WHAT I’M DRINKING

Great drops and top tipples to enjoy with meals and with fine company.

Ostler Caroline’s Pinot Noir 2016

Waitaki Valley, Otago Named after pioneer William Ostler, Ostler wines have been part of the NZ wine story since 2002 when the first pinot noir vines were planted in limestone-rich soils. Some wines can be so captivating that each sniff, taste and sip is like a personal conversation with your best friend or lover – a mesmerising journey filled with drama. The Caroline has a truly seductive bouquet, exotic velvet textures, exacting fruit flavours and long detailed finish. RRP$65.

Chasing Harvest Vinho Branco 2016

Douro, Portugal ‘Chasing harvest’ describes travel between hemispheres for extra vintage and winemaking opportunities in one year. Mike Kush and his wife Jennifer have been chasing harvest across five continents, eight countries, and many vintages. The grape varieties used for this wine produce a wine with fleshy white fruit aromas including tropical fruit and citrus. The palate delivers a flourish of flavours from lemon and apple to peach and exotic spices. RRP$30.

Mondillo Bella Pinot Noir 2016

Bendigo, Central Otago

After multiple vintages in NZ and Oregon, Domenic Mondillo and his business partner and wife Ally established Mondillo Wines. The Bella really is a beautiful wine. Named after their rabbit-catching, bird-chasing English Springer Spaniel, this wine captures the essence of Bendigo with a complex and intense dark berry fruits bouquet, layers of dark spices and toasty oak, core of fruit and pinosity and a long fine finish. RRP$90.

Yalumba The Caley Cabernet & Shiraz 2013

South Australia

Every so often a wine with great complexity, enormous fruit power and texture comes along that I have to wax lyrical about it. The Caley is named after Fred Caley Smith, grandson of Yalumba’s founder Samuel Smith. The wine has a captivating bouquet with dark violets and roses, dense and rich dark fruit scents, layers of cocoa, toasty oak and earthiness. Bold, full-bodied, persistent, powerful and complex. RRP$349.