The splurge
Most of us are reluctant to pay more than $20 for a bottle of wine, and we can find highly enjoyable stuff at that price. But on special occasions, why not indulge yourself in a special bottle? The New Zealand wines featured here are all in the $75-$175 range.
Babich The Patriarch 2016
Babich’s greatest red is estate-grown at the Irongate Vineyard in Gimblett Rd, Hawke’s Bay. This dark blend of merlot (40%), malbec (33%) and cabernet sauvignon (27%) was matured for 16 months in French oak barriques. A powerful young wine, it is sturdy, with concentrated ripe berry, plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak, good tannin backbone and obvious potential for cellaring. (13.5% alc/vol) $90
Church Road Tom Chardonnay 2018
This is the pinnacle of Church Road’s Hawke’s Bay chardonnays – as its price conveys. Grown in the Tukituki Valley, it was fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques. Still a baby, it has a highly fragrant, smoky bouquet, leading into a mouth-filling, weighty wine with lush, vigorous stone-fruit and nutty
