It's one of the greatest rivalries known to man - Australia vs New Zealand! Whether it's a bit of rugby, cricket or just who puts on the best BBQ we will will always be trying to outdo out each other and with the wine scene exploding in both countries its no different there.

For those who have followed the mixed dozens fro a time you would have seen us put out a few of these versus packs. Usually Australia and the rest of the world or taking on France and Italy is always a bit of a favourite but this one is something new to us and we like where its going.

So, we have picked some of our favorite Kiwi drops and pitted them against their Aussie counterparts. It's a bit of a like for comp to see whos drop comes out on top.

Savvy B is in there of course with two very different expressions along with a bit of pinot gris which we both do so well and of course some cracking chardy too. For the reds pinot of course, some brilliant shiraz from both countries from classic shiraz regions and a little cheeky merlot that we think will have you floored because these two are absolutely fantastic.

Little Goat Creek is a real place in the heart of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley grape-growing region. The creek flows from the Richmond Ranges of Marlborough into the Wairau River and this water in turn feeds the fertile land that produces Marlborough’s famous grapes.

Classic aromas of tropical fruit, passionfruit, and lime introduce delicious flavours of minerals, tropical fruits, hints of melon and citrus but all done with a little more tension and freshness then you often see at this level. They aren't relying on a pure fruit bomb here but giving it a little zing to keep you interested and coming back for more. Good stuff!

Textural wine with a punch of ripe flavour and nuttiness. There’s a gunflint top note followed by a dried peppermint only suggesting a varietal herbal nuance. It’s yellow peach and apple, ripe citrus at heart with a hint of wild honey and a long cool aniseed finish. Fume Blanc of substance and style. KASIA SOBIESIAK, The Wine Front

This nails the fumé brief. Texture, weight, concentration, gentle savoury elements and understated fruitiness of preserved lemon, nectarine and faint passionfruit. This works very well. Cool and calm, soft texture with a little creaminess, a striking line of briny acidity at the core. Refreshing and interesting at once. Great drinking. MIKE BENNIE, James Halliday 

The Pass Pinot Gris is made by a Trophy winning winemaker (Stu Marfell) and part of the Foley Wine Group. They’re the guys behind legendary labels like Mt.Difficulty, Roaring Meg, Te Kairanga, Vavasour, Martinborough Vineyards and more.

Made in an off-dry style this is loaded with vibrant, juicy pear and apple flavours with a touch of spice and a dry finish. It is an absolute class act and quite frankly seriously underpriced! Take advantage!

Predominantly fermented in French oak. Delicacy is its middle name, with a lovely purity and fineness of fruit on display. Captivating perfume of honeysuckle, orange blossom, Nashi pear and spiced apple. Brings a intriguing ribbon of gentle ginger root to the palate, adding a touch of herbal bite. A textural smoothness enhances this lovely wine. JENI PORT, James Halliday

East-facing, schist and wind blown loess over deep, free-draining gravels. Hand-picked and then foot-trodden for two hours before wild fermentation in French oak barriques (20% new). Maturation on lees, unsulphured, over winter (malolactic allowed to occur spontaneously), before blending and bottling at the end of summer.

Tasty stuff, easy drinking, ticks boxes for chardonnay 101. Nice whiffs of peach and nectarine, some ginger, a touch of nougat and faint green almond. The palate quite citrusy and green-apple driven, a little juicy, a lick of that nougat from the bouquet here, too, with a tangy, pineapple-y finish. Fun stuff, done well, good times. MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front 

From two vineyards, one in Cromwell, the other in Bannockburn. Used oak only. Gee, $30 is pretty spiffy for a CO Pinot.
Black fruit, spice, a little thyme and grilled meat. It's medium-bodied, but dark and savoury, with gentle pumice stone tannin, a little Campari-like bitterness, and a frisky finish of good length. Really pleasing weight and texture, not least ease of drinking. GARY WALSH, winefront.com

A blend of Harriet's Vineyard, Healesville, Boat O'Craigo Vineyard, Healesville, Nenagh Park, Willowlake Vineyard, Gladysdale.

Lovely aromatic lift and intensity here with a rainbow of red fruits; cherry, black and red raspberries, currants and wild strawberries. Open and easy-going palate that belies the subtle complexity but makes it such a joy. Long slippery palate with sweet red fruits and strawberry coulis on the finish sprinkled with fresh spice and a light peppery note. It's tougher and tougher to find pinot of this level at this price and last years was a hit too so, well done to the crew at Rob Hall for knocking another gem out. 

Mainly destemmed with a small amount of whole bunches. Matured, mainly, in seasoned hogheads and puncheons. A very light crimson. Fruit-forward aromas of gently poached red fruits, spices and light floral notes. The palate is similarly easygoing, with soft tannins rounding out an early-drinking, good-value Yarra pinot. PHILIP RICH, James Halliday

Predominately from the neighbouring property, but also contains la Collina pressings also. Just about no oak, and no new oak for sure.

Sappy, savoury, crisp and refreshing. Red fruited, super bright and slinky with fine weave of tannin, sour-sweet red fruits, a touch of maraschino, a lick of malt and some game meat with white pepper on top. It’s so vibrant, kind of refreshing/thirst-quenching, has almost a pinosity to the experience and yet gentle savoury elements in the mix. So lovely. A delightful, pure expression. (94) MIKE BENNIE, The Wine Front

If you’re old enough, you’d remember making mix tapes to give to friends or slip into the cassette player in your car, or whatever. My tape of choice, if I was feeling flush was a TDK SA-X (chrome), or even an MA-X (metal setting), and if poor, maybe a TDK AD or a lowly D.  All very nice. But thank heavens for Spotify.

A big juicy dark hit of flavour here, along with raspberry juice, mint, a bit of earthy coal-like stuff, some chewy chalk-like grip, and a warm and generous finish of good length. Doesn’t seem to have much oak influence, just a riot of bouncy earthy Barossa fruit. Good fun. GARY WALSH, The Wine Front

Hawke's Bay Bayleys Wine Awards 2023 - Silver Medal

63% Merlot/ 16% Cabernet Franc/ 10% Cabernet Sauvignon/ 9% Syrah/ 2% Petit Verdot

From the legends at Tiniity hill this is a bit of a dark horse in the lineup and presents with plenty of lush fruit buffered by beautiful mineraly structural elements that mark this as Hawkes Bay and why the wines from the region are so sought after. 

Cherry/plum flavours and the suppleness of Merlot combine with the violet perfume and blackberry flavours of Cabernet Franc to produce a serious, yet eminently drinkable wine packed full of flavour and character. A versatile wine that can be enjoyed on its own or partnered with a wide range of different flavoured foods. Ready to drink now but will reward short to medium-term cellaring 

“The owner of the vineyard is a grouse human and is always happy to help out, so this wine is an ode to Mic”, says wine maker Oscar Hermann.

Lovely supple wine offering plum and dark mint chocolate, with a few dried herbs. So silky and kind of dense, with lively sappy acidity, and a plush and juicy plum finish of good length. In short, it’s just a really good thing to drink. (93) GARY WALSH, The Wine Front