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In the space of three years - since founding WineFolio in late 2019 - David Walker Bell has become one of New Zealand’s key wine writers, critics and communicators.
A native of England, but a New Zealand citizen by choice, David brings a European perspective of fine wine from Europe to our shores - searching out the very best that is available in New Zealand, and with an eye to how that stacks up in global terms.
Quickly establishing a reputation for straight talking and an enthusiasm for all facets of the New Zealand wine scene; WineFolio.co.nz, shows an appreciation for the diverse world of wine - from ‘natural wine’ to the bottles on the NZ Fine Wines list.
Rounding out the rest of the box that was waiting for me on my ‘return to New Zealand’ – with a slew of bold reds from both Europe and Australia. Laithwaites have a real strength in Aussie reds, I find. And you can hardly set a foot wrong with that – there’s so much to like about a bold red from a warm climate. The best of Australian reds can easily cellar for twenty years, but can equally be drinking very well on release. Here are my thoughts on this...
It has been a fairly busy month for WineFolio. Whilst it might be ‘Dry July’ for people who buy into that sort of thing, and the reports of hospitality venues getting closer and closer to calling it quits (are those two related…hmmm?) continue to grow. But for me, the midwinter month has brought some great celebrations, gatherings and events. After another fun-filled week, it’s nice to sit down and know that I don’t have to think about what I’m going to...
I think that readers will know the story by now. I was approached by Laithwaites – the longest-running ‘wine subscription service’ in the world, to review their offerings, and once every couple of months I’ll be sent a box of wines. I don’t choose these, so it is always a treat to open and see what I have in front of me. There’s always – every time – at least one wine that I wouldn’t have thought to pick for myself, so it is lovely to have these boxes...
We’re towards the end of what has actually been a Summer in Auckland this year – unlike last year’s non-event – and this week I received the latest ‘mystery box’ from Laithwaites that was packed with just the sort of wines I’d want to have on hand for entertaining at this time of year. Every time I open one of these boxes, I smile, and often think to myself “well I wouldn’t have thought to buy that myself…but I’m looking forward to trying it!”...
I wrote an article about the Christmas break – read that here > www.winefolio.co.nz/?p=9930. I usually go on a week away in the second week or so after New Year, and I don’t usually ‘turn on’ to wine again until after that. A box of mixed wines is something of a blessing around then. A mixed bag that I can dip in and out of without having to think too hard about it – just see what comes. Laithwaites have a knack of always including something quirky...
With thoughts starting to turn towards Summer and what you’ll be getting in for the Christmas holidays – a timely drop of wines arrived from my friends at Laithwaites this week. Another mixed box – and as usual it is a variety of wine styles, and I don’t ever know what I’m getting until I open the box...
Turning to a new chapter in the on-going adventures in wine discovery, courtesy of Laithwaites. The box this month contains a range of wines – expect the unexpected! We’ll start with the sparkling wine, then onto a white, then move through a (very good) Rosé. There’s a good selection of three reds – from Australia – Laithwaites do seem to have a super selection of good-value and yummy reds from ‘West Island’. The last wine is one...
Although this is about the eighth box of wines that I’ve received from Laithwaites – the thrill of opening it up and pulling out the bottles to see what’s inside doesn’t dampen. I’m always really keen to have a look at what’s been sent in each box – I don’t have prior knowledge, so it is really is a discovery session. There’s at least a couple that I feel like opening there and then! I start planning what I’m going to have to eat with each one as well...
It has been a couple of months since my last ‘wine adventure in a box’ from laithwaites.co.nz arrived – and it is funny how you can just drop back into your comfort zone and drink what you always drink – when, in fact, there’s a whole world of discovery to be had out in the world of wines. I do get sent quite a bit of wine – and in the last month I’ve hosted another ‘Top 10 Tasting’ benchmarking New Zealand Syrahs; tasted through lots of new releases from...
Starting with a white that wouldn’t be on most people’s table this weekend – Château Le Coin Sauvignon Gris 2020. A single varietal white wine, from Bordeaux, in France, sealed under cork. A translucent, very pale gold colour. Lime, grapefruit, white pepper, red apple, green capsicum and fennel on the nose. Very dry, with a bracing, saline acidity, quite tight and linear into the palate. As the wine unwinds, there are richer, smoky and toasted spice notes...
A new box of wine discoveries from the good folk at Laithwaites. They really do seem to be able to deliver the goods again and again – it’s never a boring selection. Great wines and great value. This time it is a box of seven wines, with a range from around the world. I absolutely love getting these boxes that are chock-full of wines that I probably wouldn’t be able to find – or even, choose, for myself, certainly not easily! I mean, a Spanish Moscatel...
The discovery and adventures continues with my dive into the Laithwaites catalogue of wines from around the globe. Although, to be fair, I’m staying closer to home with this six-pack. Half of these wines also featured in the Australian class of our Winefolio Top 10 Tasting of ‘Single Varietal reds’ which means they are amongst the ten best that we tasted for that session...
Back once again with another mixed box. They just keep coming! Hahaha. I liked a lot about this one – not often I get to try a Chardonnay from Coonawarra… two rieslings, and three different reds – including one from Argentina, in one sitting...
The discovery and adventures continues with my dive into the Laithwaites catalogue of wines from around the globe. Although, to be fair, I’m staying closer to home with this six-pack. Half of these wines also featured in the Australian class of our Winefolio Top 10 Tasting of ‘Single Varietal reds’ which means they are amongst the ten best that we tasted for that session...
Yes, I know. This is becoming a regular thing now! But there is quite a lot to discover in the world of Laithwaites, and these mixed boxes are quite addictive! This time I’d manage to squeeze in a few bottles from a selection they have from New Zealand – as well as some other treats, from near and far.
We start with whites – a riesling from Marlborough. The Doctors...
OK, so the last box was good – not amazingly full of Gold medal stunners but had plenty to offer the casual punter and interested explorer beyond the usual offerings on a NZ supermarket shelf. Sticking with it, I’m now through the third box – where the series starts to get really interesting. The themes have been set, and it is time to take a deep dive into character development...
We’re back to the fun of the fair tonight, with another mystery box of goodness delivered from those wine experts at Laithwaites. You’ll remember back in May this year when I took a box around to a friend’s house and worked our way through it with a gourmet meal – www.winefolio.co.nz/?p=5469. I enjoyed it so much, I got another two – one reviewed now, and another to enjoy in a couple of weeks time!...
This article could easily fit into a couple of sections on WineFolio. There is the reviews category, or the on-going series of features about “How we’re selling wine in NZ”. In the end I think I’ll put into both, as I’m going to assess the wines, as much as I’m thinking about what the experience of having a box of wines delivered, ready to be discovered, would be like...