Te Hana Sparkling Reserve Cuvee NV

Te Hana means To Shine in Maori and with a pretty little label like this, one would hope that it does. An 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir sparkling with the fruit sourced from the Marlborough region Te Hana is a relatively new product in Lion Nathan's attempt at a chunk of the sparkling wine market.   

Ripe and tropical this sparkling shows characteristics of pineapple, honey, apricot, fresh lime and papaya with a floral note which is all wrapped up with some medium sized bubbles which are relatively creamy in the mouth. Generally though this is good, simple, enjoyable sparkling wine which is really nicely presented.

The Te Hana range also has a rose and a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, which is this years cool kid in New Zealand. Overall the range is an interesting addition to the New Zealand sparklers selection, sitting between the Lindauer's and the Palliser Estate's and Daniel Le Brun's available, it will be interesting to see how it performs over the long term.