Jim Jerram is the leading pioneer of the developing Waitaki Valley viticultural region. His Ostler label is based in the hamlet of Kurow (where Richie McCaw played his first rugby) and has developed a fine reputation for Pinot Noir and aromatic whites. The name comes from Jim’s great-grandfather, William Ostler, who came from Yorkshire to this area in the 1850s. The Waitaki climate is cooler than Central Otago, thanks to afternoon easterly breezes sucked in from the coast, however the ripening season is longer and – so far – with lower frost risks.

The newest vineyard site in the Ostler stable, Lakeside, is perhaps the most exciting yet for aromatic grapes such as Riesling. The flavours offer delicious lemon and lime notes, while a trace of residual sugar balances the Riesling grape’s natural acidity. At 10.5 percent alcohol this is a beautifully refreshing drink.

The 2014 Chardonnay reveals a pretty perfume of honey-drizzled white peaches, orange blossoms, marzipan and ginger with savory wafts of struck match (sulfides) and baking bread. Light to medium-bodied, taut and with a wicked backbone of racy acid, it gives a great intensity of citrus and savory flavors and great length. 
Drinking window 2016-2022.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate. 30th December 2016. 

Headed up by the former team at Cloudy Bay, Dog Point has built up an enviable reputation for their Marlborough wines. The region is fast becoming New Zealand’s answer to Napa Valley. Grapes are all handpicked, while a non-interventionist, natural, hands-off approach characterizes all their wines.

This is not your typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Eighteen months in older French oak barrels has given this beautiful fruit a nutty richness and creamy texture that make it an excellent partner with a wide range of foods, and will allow the wine to benefit from a few years in the cellar. The stunning aromatics are all there, along with concentrated flavours of honeyed peaches, lemon tart and pink grapefruit. Very complex and satisfying.

2014 was a relatively cool vintage in Nelson, resulting in elegant, fine-boned wines such as this. The nose is restrained but seductive, with aromas of just-ripe plum, black cherry and cranberry. There’s also a hint of clove from one year in French oak (25% new). On the palate, expect fresh acidity and firm tannins, which respond brilliantly to the right dish – try roast lamb. Bottled un-fined and unfiltered.
Will Heslop - Wine Buyer

Some peachy notes on the nose laced with violets, make for fine and distinguished aromatics. Medium bodied and with a charming graceful finish. Best to drink this young to make the most of the wonderful bouquet. Drink 2016-2018

Sam has made another fantastic Chardonnay in 2014. It has the freshness and intensity of his 2013 yet combines this with a touch more breadth on the palate. White peach and nectarine fruit comes through but the core is still incredibly focused and mineral. Lovely, lime acidity lifts the long, fresh and pure finish. This is truly impressive.
Catriona Felstead - Wine Buyer

Having lived in London at the heart of the UK wine trade for many years, Sam Harrop MW moved back to New Zealand with his family a few years ago and now makes wines under his own name (for the first time), working his aunt and uncle’s vineyard, located at 400 metres’ altitude on the sub-tropical island of Waiheke.

This is impressive, pure and elegant Syrah. It has a lovely aromatic nose with classic Northern Rhône aromas, and flavours of wet granite and fresh black cherries. The palate is refined and elegant with a refreshing herbaceous twist. There is a glorious breadth on the palate but the wine is wonderfully refreshing with a real lift on the finish. We cannot recommend enough that you give this a try.

As always with Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, the aromatics are explosive. Grapefruit, greengage, passion fruit, asparagus, elderflower, mineral hints…the list could go and on and on.  It is the addition weight that sets this wine apart however, a richness which allows it to really excel with food in a way which lesser Sauvignons cannot. Racy and vibrant, there is bags of cleansing acidity here and a focus which is reminiscent of fine Riesling. 
Ben Upjohn - Fine Wine Sales Manager Brilliantly aromatic, and distinctively Marlborough! ‘Intense’ is over-used in wine tasting notes, but it’s needed when describing this Sauvignon. Heaps of gooseberries, pepper, and herbaceous notes on the nose, gooseberry, passion fruit and elderflower all mingle beautifully on the palate. This is superbly refreshing and wonderfully balanced, this will hit all the right spots on one of those UK summer days. 
Ben Grosvenor, Private Account Manager

Nigel Greening is incredibly excited by the 2014 vintage, in fact he goes as far as to say "I can truly say it is the most exciting set of wines I have ever seen us release, and by some margin." The Bannockburn Pinot Noir is the first of the 2014s to hit our shores and give a fantastic insight into why this vintage is so eagerly anticipated. The warm, bright red cherry fruit is generous, yet is balanced with a delicate precision and focus. The tannins are smooth with just enough presence to add grip and a lovely minerality comes through on the long finish. Nigel says the Pinots of this vintage "dance rather than sit" and I have to agree with him. The 2014 Bannockburn is a beautiful wine.
Catriona Felstead MW May 2015

Of the Single Vineyards, the Coddington is the most approachable in its youth. Another great wine from Chardonnay masters Kumeu River. The 2014 Coddington is brimming with orchard fruit, baked lemon and a saline, mineral note – New Zealand’s answer to Chassagne Montrachet perhaps. Lots of nervy acidity on the palate, with hint of peach and orange blossom adding weight. I’d give this a couple of years in the cellar. Drink 2018-2025
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager

Established in 1944, Kumeu River Wines is still owned and operated by the Brajkovich Family.  Michael Brajkovich is producing some of the best New Zealand Chardonnays currently available, wines that get their inspiration from white Burgundy and in particular the likes of Puligny Montrachet & Chassagne Montrachet, especially in terms of reserve and minerality. 

There is a rather tired tendency amongst the trade to compare New world with Old world wines but genuinely the Kumeu wines are comparable.  This comparison in no way takes away any of the new Zealand-ness of these wines, it is just meant to emphasise the extreme quality one can find here at a fraction of the price one would spend for the same quality in the Northern hemisphere.

These terroir driven wines compete with the best the New World has to offer like Giaconda, Penfold’s Yattarna but with a price attractive to many. The current vintage of 2014 is once again an exemplary vintage in a string of superb offerings from this estate.  For any white wine lover, these Chardonnays are a must have.

Strikingly pure on the nose, citrus, white peach and grapefruit with just a suggestion of toasty oak in the background. Medium to full bodied palate, expansive mouthfeel but the core of freshening acidity keeps the fruit in check.  Attractive richness and plenty of finesse, lovely crowd pleasing Chardonnay.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager