We had the absolute pleasure of meeting James Suckling and showing him the behind the scenes of Hans wine world.
We were blown away by his reviews of 94-97 points, two wines named in his top 100 NZ wines (Riesling 2019 and Spirit of Marlborough 2016) we have showcased these reviews below.
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Score: 96 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A stunning dry riesling with sliced pear, apple, flowers and honey. White pepper, too. Full body. Bitter lemon and hints of honey come through. Creamy and beautiful. Like a grand cru riesling. Tiny production. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
Featured in Top 100 wines of NZ
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Viognier 2019
Score: 96 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – Dense lemon rind with pineapple and sliced green apple. Full-bodied, yet energetic and vibrant. Zesty and energetic. Bitter lemon. A wild viognier. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 94 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A blend of viognier, marsanne and roussanne, showing dried-pineapple, sliced-mango and dried-apple character. Lightly oily. Dried-fruit flavors. Flavorful and delicious. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 93 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A fruity and fresh white with a creamy texture and plenty of mango and cooked-apple aromas and flavors. Framed with nice phenolics and balanced acidity. Bitter lemon. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Sauvignon Blanc Grande Duchesse 2019
Score: 94 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – This is a selection from a gravelly part of the vineyards with hints of oak. It’s full-bodied with dried apples and peaches. Fermented in oak. Bitter lemon at the end. About 10% semillon. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 97 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – This is a serious nebbiolo with blackberry, strawberry, chocolate and spice. Full-bodied with creamy and round tannins that last for minutes. Softness and length. Yet, it’s linear and fine. Integratedtannins. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Montepulciano 2018
Score: 95 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A tight and focused montepulciano with crushed blackberries, white pepper and crushed stones. Purple fruit. It’s fullbodied with round, integrated tannins and a polished finish. Impressive, integrated tannin structure. Some orange at the end. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 94 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – Crushed blackberry and black cherry with orange peel. Lavender and violets, too. Full-bodied with orange peel in the centerpalate. Graphite. Wild fruit. No real tannin presence. Bright acidity. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 94 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – Aromas of blackberries, graphite, iron shavings and wet earth. Full-bodied with creamy tannins and a long, round finish. Structured in a soft and friendly way. Exceptional depth. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 96 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A powerful and layered red with blackcurrant, black olive and stone. Some iron, too. Full-bodied with polished yet chewy tannins and a long finish. The oyster-shell and lead-pencil character is beautiful. Equal blend of merlot, cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.
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Score: 97 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – The tannins are so polished and creamy, yet it’s firm at the same time, like cut velvet. It’s full-bodied with juicy plums and strawberries. Flavorful and savory. Hints of meat and bark. Mushroom, too. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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Score: 95 Points
14 Nov, 2022 – A fresh and refined red with cedar, mushroom, black cherry and spice. Medium to light body with a tannin texture that caresses your palate. Hints of orange and spices, such as cloves, with a stemmy note. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.
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