Askerne Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Franc 2018 4 stars
This youthful, ageworthy red was estate-grown and matured for a year in French oak barrels (30% new).  Fragrant and full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, with fresh berryish, herbal, spicy flavours, showing good concentration and complexity, and a smooth finish.  Best drinking 2022+.   

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2019 4 stars
Already very approachable, this mouthfilling, generous wine was fermented and matured for 10 months in oak barrels (20 per cent new).  Bright, light yellow/green, it is sweet-fruited, with fresh acidity and strong, peachy, slightly buttery and nutty flavours, showing good complexity.  Best drinking mid-2021+.   

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2019 4½ stars
Delicious young, this light lemon/green wine is an off-dry style, perfumed and mouthfilling, with peach, lychee and spice flavours, fresh and rich, a hint of ginger, gentle acidity and a long, spicy, well-rounded finish. 

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Franc/Malbec 2018 4 stars
Drinking well in its youth, this is a blend of principally merlot (34%), cabernet franc (28%) and malbec (28%), with minor amounts of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot.  Matured for over a year in oak barrels (43% new), it is full-coloured, fleshy and sweet-fruited, with generous red berry, plum and spice flavours, oak complexity and a smooth, harmonious finish.  $24

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Pinot Gris 2019 4 stars
Still unfolding, this youthful wine was mostly handled in tanks; 12.5% of the blend was barrel-fermented and briefly oak-aged.  Bright, light lemon/green, it is weighty and fleshy, with strong, ripe, pear-like flavours, gentle spicy notes and a dryish finish.  Best drinking mid-2021+.   

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019 4½ stars
Here’s proof that Hawke’s Bay can make delicious sauvignon blanc.  A distinctive wine, it is fleshy and lively, with concentrated passionfruit/lime flavours, a touch of complexity, and a finely balanced, dry, lasting finish.  

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon/Sauvignon Gris 2019 4½ stars
Still youthful, this characterful wine is a blend of sauvignon blanc (77%), Semillon (13%) and sauvignon gris (10%).  Although mostly handled in tanks, 40% was fermented and matured for eight months in oak barrels (21% new).  Bright, light lemon/green, it is ripely fragrant, full-bodied and sweet-fruited, with rich tropical fruit flavours and finely integrated oak adding complexity. Best drinking mid-2021+.   

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2018 4 stars
Highly approachable in its youth, but also worth cellaring, this mouthfilling, sweet-fruited red was matured for over a year in French oak casks (38% new).  Full-coloured, it has generous, ripe, berryish, spicy flavours, with finely integrated oak adding complexity and a supple, well-rounded finish.  

Askerne Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2019 4 stars
Well worth cellaring, this wine was hand-picked and fermented in French oak casks (20 per cent new).  Pale lemon/green, it is full-bodied, fresh and lively, with youthful, ripe, peachy, slightly spicy flavours, gently seasoned with oak.  Best drinking mid-2021+.  $24

Askerne Late Harvest Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2019 5 stars
Already delicious, this gold/amber wine has an inviting, honeyed fragrance.  Weighty and rich, it has highly concentrated, peachy, spicy flavours, enriched but not swamped by botrytis, finely balanced acidity, an oily texture and a sweet, seductively smooth finish   

Askerne Noble Hawke’s Bay Semillon 2017 5 stars
Powerful, this is a sweet but not super-sweet wine, estate-grown, hand-picked and fermented and matured for 20 months in oak barrels (25% new).  Gold/amber, it is mouthfilling and complex, with concentrated peach, apricot and honey aromas and flavours, lively acidity and a rich, oily texture.  Delicious drinking right now.   $33 (375ml)

¨ Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Gewürztraminer 2019 4½ stars
Exotically perfumed, this powerful, very youthful wine was handled entirely in tanks.  Bright, light lemon/green, it is a mouthfilling, distinctly medium style, with strong, finely balanced peach, pear and spice flavours and a lengthy, well-spiced finish. Best drinking 2022+.  $30

¨ Askerne Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc 2019 4½ stars
Still extremely youthful, this is a blend of principally merlot (43%) and cabernet sauvignon (31%), with smaller amounts of cabernet franc and malbec.  Matured for 10 months in oak barrels (47% new), it is deeply coloured, full-bodied and savoury, with strong, ripe, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, showing good complexity, fresh acidity and a rich, smooth finish.  Best drinking 2023+.

 Askerne The Archer Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay 2018 5 stars
This powerful, youthful wine was fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak barrels (45% new).  Bright, light yellow/green, with a fragrant, slightly smoky bouquet, it is sturdy, with highly concentrated, peachy, citrusy flavours, complex, savoury, rich and long.  Best drinking 2022+.