Look out for the Taste Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
$30 and less
Coopers Creek 2016 Select Vineyard Chalk Ridge Syrah Hawke’s Bay $28
Lush, rich and quite elegant Syrah with ripe plum, floral, spicy oak and a subtle mineral thread. Smooth-textured red with an impressively lengthy finish.
Villa Maria 2016 Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Hawke’s Bay $18.50
Medium-bodied red with leafy, fresh herb, cassis and plum flavours. Moderately complex wine that’s solidly structured and needs a little bottle age.
Mills Reef 2017 Reserve Syrah Hawke’s Bay $24.95
Light, fresh and tangy Syrah with violet, white/black pepper, raspberry and spicy oak flavours. Supple rather than blockbuster red with appealing purity and an accessible texture.
Trinity Hill 2015 The Trinity Hawke’s Bay $22.99
Merlot-dominant blend from a good Hawke’s Bay vintage. Rich, fleshy and attractive medium-bodied red with chocolate/mocha, plum and spicy oak flavours.
Vidal 2016 Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, Hawke’s Bay $19.99
Medium- to full-bodied red with a mix of dark berry, cassis and fresh herb flavours together with a hint of floral/violet. Supple wine with a backbone of gently drying tannins.
More than $30
Cypress 2013 The Cypress Syrah Hawke’s Bay $90
Lush, rich, dense Syrah with plum, dark berry, dark chocolate, black pepper and spicy oak flavours. Elegance on a grand scale.
Trinity Hill 2016 Homage Syrah Hawke’s Bay $120
Rich, ‘Christmas cake’ aroma with dried fruits, plum, spice and sappy characters on the palate. Intense and powerful Syrah that clearly needs plenty of bottle age before it eases into second gear.
Te Motu 2013 Onetangi Valley Waiheke Island $140
Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend with Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Dense, elegant and impressive wine with an intriguing mix of dried berry fruits, spices, savoury and oak characters. From a stellar Waiheke vintage.
Craggy Range 2016 Le Sol Syrah Hawke’s Bay $150
Nicely perfumed and typically dense, rich Syrah with a lovely texture and firm, rounded tannins. Powerful yet elegant wine with plum, berry and mixed spice flavours together with an interesting savoury edge.
Craggy Range 2016 The Quarry, Hawke’s Bay $150
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (88%), Cabernet Franc (8%) and Merlot (4%). Beautifully layered flavours with cassis, blackberry, cigar box and dried herb supported by graphite tannins. Great wine that cries out for bottle age.