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IWM September 2011

There is no getting away from the paradox that the manner in one which judges wine, in terms of a critical assessment, is far from how it is intended to be drunk. Wine is meant to be enjoyed with food and friends, in celebration and solace, lingered over and savoured. Clearly, any attempt at impartial assessment rules out most, if not all of this and by association introduces a layer of seriousness and artificiality that is at odds with the convivial aspect of wine.

2 October 2011
IWM April 2011

Although it is spooky how much we agree on, when we do have a disagreement it is usually one of biblical proportions. And as neither of us likes to back down, thereby allowing the other the luxury of the moral high ground, it made more sense to work out a system for each of us to have a voice: so now both of our individual notes will be published for each wine. Latest releases from Kidnapper Cliffs, Greywacke, Redmetal, Dry River, Astrolabe, Whitehaven, Distant Land, Black Estate, Seresin MOMO, Mission Estate, Pasquale and Ata Rangi.

20 April 2011
IWM September 2010

There’s no getting away from debates on subjectivity when it comes to tasting wine and, as much as we try to make our tasting system objective here at the IWM, it is difficult to avoid the ingrained human trait of expectation. When the bottles are unmasked, that is when Jane and I find ourselves weighing up how we felt the wines performed versus our expectation of them. . . .

16 September 2010
IWM March 2010

The March 2010 issue contains reviews of : Hawkshead, Camshorn, Sacred Hill, Vidal Estate, Church Road, Montana Letter Series, Ti Point, Tolaga Bay Estate, Grasshopper Rock, Sileni Estate, Walnut Block, Paritua, Anchorage Wines, Bouldevines Wines, Mahi, Locharburn Wines and Framingham.

23 March 2010
IWM January 2010

An interesting issue of debate is the uniformly high scores one sees regularly given out. Naturally there is no point in being miserly for the sake of it, but when nearly every NZ pinot and sauvignon is scored 92-98/100, it leaves only a very small space for the Yquems, Raveneaus, Granges and Lafites et al to fit, does it not?

28 February 2010
IWM October 2009

Having judged a number of shows recently, we are left with the impression that perhaps show judging, indeed wine criticism in general is going down the path already trodden by primary school teachers. If everyone gets a 'participation' certificate, where does that leave wines that actually are really good?

23 October 2009
IWM July 2009

However rigorous and scrupulous the process of tasting and scoring 100s of wines, it shouldn't be forgotten that most wine is not drunk this way. Amazing as it may seem, wine is drunk as an accompaniment to food. But unfortunately we struggled to drink some of the wines we tasted this month . . . .

4 August 2009
IWM April 2009

Much of May has been devoted to travel, MW revision and teaching, with the editing and publication of the April IWM taking a back seat. Thankfully (and by the hair on our chinny chin chins), we manage to squeeze this April edition out just before welcoming in the month of June. So much for our smug pronouncements back in March . . . . .

20 May 2009
IWM March 2009

A first for the IWM ; this issue published almost within the month to which it refers. Wonders never cease . . . Inside, a first look at wines from several new labels; Turanga Creek, Discovery Point and Domain Road, alongside established names Felton Road, Valli Vineyards and Sileni Estates amongst others.

1 April 2009
IWM November 2008

Lots of interesting wines this month: Neudorf Rieslings, Saint Clair Pioneer Block Sauvignon Blanc, Grasshopper Rock, Mahi, Church Road Cuve Series . . . .

18 December 2008
IWM October 2008

New releases from Gisborne's Hihi Wines, Lawson's Dry Hills, Paritua, Aurum and 25 Steps amongst others . . . .

18 November 2008
IWM August 2008

Covering Brunton Road, Rockburn, Vidal Estate, Pegasus Bay, Desert Heart, Blind River, Mission Estate, Jackson Estate and Clos Marguerite.

1 August 2008
IWM June 2008

Hewitson, Neudorf, Twin Islands, Richmond Plains, Matahiwi Estate, Walnut Block Wines, Two Sisters, Alana Estate, Churton Wines, Montana Estate Terroir Series Pinots, Trinity Hill, Main Divide, Stone Paddock, Te Mata Estate and The Ned.

1 June 2008
IWM January 2008

This month brings Hihi Wines, Muddy Water, Stoneleigh Vineyards, The Blocks, Mudhouse Wines, Montana Terroir, Blind River Wines, Surveyor Thomas Wines, Camshorn Vineyards, Alpha Domus and Winegrowers of Ara.

1 January 2008
IWM October 2007

This month's issue includes reviews of wines from Clearview Estate, Crawford Farm, Waipara Hills, Cable Bay, Bilancia, Sacred Hil, Gunn Estate, Beresford, from the cellar Dry River and Schubert Estate plus commentary from judging at the 2007 Liquorland Top 100.

1 October 2007
IWM August 2007

This month's reviews include Julicher Estate, Jackson Estate, Pegasus Bay, Framingham Wine Co, Rosemount Estate, Brothers in Arms, Brown Brothers and from the cellar, Fiddler's Green and Giaconda.

1 August 2007
IWM July 2007

In this issue, Spy Valley Envoy, Morton Estate, Valli, Fairhall Downs, Te Awa, Saint Clair, Nobilo and from the cellar, Trinity Hill and Rippon.

1 July 2007
IWM June 2007

June's issue of the Independent Wine Monthly covers our scoring system, Domaine Georges de Vogüé, Penfolds new releases, ghastly wine dinners, Julicher Estate. Jacob's Creek, The Ned, Vavasour, Isabel Estate, Lawson's Dry Hills, Highfield, Matahiwi, Montana Terroir Series, Babich Estate, and Craggy Range.

1 June 2007
IWM March 2007

Covering Sacred Hill's 21st birthday, Cloudy Bay new release tasting, Matua Valley, Fairhall Downs, Forrest Estate, Framingham, Lake Hayes, Nautilus, Te Mania Wines, Rippon Vineyards, Sticks Yarra Valley and Hungerford Hill.

1 March 2010
IWM February 2007

The very first issue of the IWM covers Bordeaux 2003 First Growths tasting, Esk Valley 2006 release tasting, Jackson Estate, Clayridge Vineyards, Terravin, Taltarni, Escarpment Vineyard, Matua Valley, Thornbury Estate and Craggy Range.

1 February 2007

The Independent Wine Monthly

This category has 20 articles.
Last updated on 2 October 2011.

The aim of this monthly online wine magazine is to provide an independent and honest commentary on wines available to the consumer in New Zealand. We have become increasingly aware of a lack of critical wine reviews in the media. We know how difficult it is to attend a tasting, enjoy a special lunch and then return to the keyboard and type an unflattering article.However we both felt that wine writers do consumers a disservice if they don't provide objective and honestly-held views. This is one of the benefits of launching this magazine as a joint venture – we both have strongly held opinions and enjoy the forthright discussions that accompany each tasting session! Together, we hope we can provide a more balanced view than if we tasted alone.

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The Independent Wine Monthly