Whether it’s a single variety expression or a blend of varieties, a red wine can be just the ticket for sipping alongside winter fare.
They can also be very age-worthy wines as the combination of fruit concentration and bold tannins, along with an abundance of acidity, all need some cellar time to integrate, synergise and harmonise.
Oak is a given with this wine category, contributing texture (to a greater or lesser degree) and complexity, adding months or years to the ageing potential.
It is typical for a blended red to need at least three years in bottle to reach a point where it can be enjoyed on its own (or with food), though anywhere from five to 20 years to develop completely can also be expected.
Cameron Douglas MS explores some of the options in this month’s tasting guide, here are some of his top picks…
Akarua The Siren Pinot Noir 2023, Bannockburn, Central Otago
Fabulous bouquet and palate with a core of ripe dark cherry and savoury, earthy, natural aromas. Scents of blackcurrant and dried raspberry, then wild forest flowers and barrel spices. Dry, delicious, taut, poised, and engaging on the palate, with a core of ripe red berry fruits and spices from wood and soil. A firm structure with an abundance of tannins and acidity; there’s a mix of barrel spices and nut, some reductive moments, then core fruit flavours emerge again. Lengthy, youthful, and still developing, with best drinking from 2028 through to 2036+.
Points: 95
RRP: $110.00
Distributor: Hancocks Wine & Spirits Merchants
Phone: (09) 361 8480
www.akarua.com
Q Pinot Noir 2021, Waitaki Valley
The signature style that runs through Q Wines is clear in this expression — aromas of mineral limestone and chalk, followed by ripe dark cherry, then layers of vanilla, clove, and wood smoke from barrel ageing. Aromas and flavours of dark cherry and boysenberry are joined by a raspberry note, with plenty of structure from polished tannins and a distinctive acid line. Dry, taut, defined, balanced, and long. A delicious wine, still developing, with best drinking from 2028 through 2036.
Points: 95
RRP: $75.00
Distributor: Q WINE
Phone: (021) 349 400
www.qwine.co.nz
Alpha Domus The Vector Cabernet Franc 2023, Bridge Pa Triangle, Hawke’s Bay
Certified organic, this wine opens with aromas of blackberry, black olive, dry earth, violets, and a fine savoury wood nuance. The palate is firm and dry, with a textured profile and core fruit flavours that mirror the bouquet. Polished tannins and red berry notes contribute to a fleshy mouthfeel, while vibrant acidity brings freshness and structure. Plump and fresh, it’s best enjoyed from 2027 through to 2034.
Points: 94
RRP: $34.00
Distributor: CoLab Wine Merchants
Phone: (06) 879 6752
www.alphadomus.co.nz
Redmetal Basket Press Syrah 2021, Bridge Pa Triangle
A core of purple and ruby leading to a pink-ruby rim. There’s plenty of concentration and power, with aromas and flavours of Doris plum skin, blackcurrant, and a mix of baking spices led by clove, then vanilla, followed by a toasty wood smoke layer. Gravelly, stony soils with a clay component contribute to the wine’s character. Polished tannins are abundant, supported by a backbone of acidity. Delicious, balanced, and well made — a wine ready for drinking from the day of purchase through to 2032.
Points: 94
RRP: $48.00
Distributor: Red+White Cellar
Phone: (0800) 946 3792
www.redmetalvineyards.co.nz
Read all of Cameron’s wine reviews here.
Cameron Douglas is New Zealand’s first and only Master Sommelier. An experienced wine commentator, judge, reviewer, presenter and consultant, he is the Beverage Director & Group Sommelier for Rodd & Gunn and is the Patron of the New Zealand Sommeliers and Wine Professionals Association. Formerly academically in charge of the Wine & Beverage Programme at AUT in Auckland, Douglas has also consulted to a variety of establishments, taking care of their wine lists, wine and food pairings, and staff training matters, and he currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas.
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