Wine: 3 sips for the week

BALTHAZAR HAWKE'S BAY MERLOT CABERNET FRANC 2010, $25

Inky and glossy in the glass, it's a deep, brooding, earthy wine which is stitched together with violet, dark berryfruit, pepper, smoke and hints of graphite. Succulent, solid tannins add to its chewy length of flavour and its potential to cellar nicely indeed.

INCOGNITO PRESTIGE AWATERE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011, $15

This is a definite new favourite for me - aromas of freshly chopped herbs, fennel, lime and pineapple lead to a juicy, flavoursome palate that's tangy but not tart and has layers of concentrated citrus all the way through to the finish. An absolute steal, it's available from the Fine Wine Delivery Company, www.finewinedelivery.co.nz

RIVERBY ESTATE MARLBOROUGH NOBLE RIESLING 2011 $35, 375ml

Golden and brassy and wow, what an incredible wine. Delicious rose-toffee, caramelised peach, marmalade, and tangy, tantalising, ultra-sexy flavours - can't fault it, more please. Buy from www.riverbyestate.com