In the aftermath of a reckless Christmas/New Year/summer holiday spend-up, and faced with a credit card account spinning out of control - here are some great, inexpensive buys.
All wines available from heraldwine.co.nz for a limited time.
2013 Spinyback Pinot Noir
From Nelson's Waimea Estate, one of the region's largest producers, comes an uncomplicated astonishing value pinot. The bouquet has those primary characters we've come to expect of local pinots - cherry, plum and raspberry with some floral notes. Juicy, with lots of fruit and a subtle spicy finish, this is great with white meats, pasta or light game.
Price: $18
2014 Haha Pinot Gris
The better the summer the more pinot gris is likely to be a white wine of choice. No demands, no controversy, no extremes and the ability to match almost anything on the plate. The logical choice for people who don't want to have to think too much about what they're drinking. Grapes were picked from Hawkes Bay high country vineyards and after a long hot dry summer the wine has a lovely balance of fruit, sweetness and acidity. Off-dry in style and you can taste the quince, mango and pear that makes it a lovely match with semi-hard cheeses or spicy Asian dishes.
Price: $16
2013 Squealing Pig Sauvignon Blanc
From Marlborough's Awatere Valley so expect a rush of typical sauvignon flavours with a bit of biff. Intense with herbal characters and those ever-lovin' flavours of citrus, grass, asparagus and nougat. A multiple gold medal winner, so they are certainly doing something right.
Price: $20
