Wine and Beverage Reviews

All Cam's wine and beverage reviews use the 100-point scale:

Outstanding 95 - 100 PointsA great wine. Cellar worthy. Impeccably made. — Outstanding 95 - 100 Points
A great wine
Cellar worthy
Impeccably made

Very Good to ExcellentA wine with concentration, texture, character and quality — Very Good to Excellent
A wine with concentration, texture, character and quality

PremiumA wine with special qualities — Premium
A wine with special qualities.
Also available, 92 Point only Stickers

RecommendedA wine that is well made, immediately drinkable and will not disappoint — Recommended
A wine that is well made, immediately drinkable and should not disappoint

Recently Tasted

Posts in Red blend

Clearview Estate Winery Enigma 2024, Hawke's Bay

Clearview Estate Winery Enigma 2024, Hawke's Bay

Fabulous

2024, Cabernet, Cabernets, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasSeptember 12, 2025Clearview Estate Winery, Enigma, Red Wine, Red Blend, Cabernets, Hawke's Bay

Clearview Estate Winery Old Olive Block 2024, Hawke's Bay

Clearview Estate Winery Old Olive Block 2024, Hawke's Bay

Complex, youthful and new

2024, Cabernets, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasSeptember 6, 2025Clearview Estate Winery, Old Olive Block, Cabernet Blend, Red Wine, Red Blend, Hawke's Bay, Wine of the week, Wine of the Week

Mills Reef Winery Elspeth One 2021, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Mills Reef Winery Elspeth One 2021, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

A bold and impressive wine

2021, Gimblett Gravels, Red blendCameron DouglasAugust 30, 2025Mills Reef Winery, Elspeth, Elspeth One, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay, Red Blend

Thomas Barton Reserve Saint-Émilion Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2023, France

Thomas Barton Reserve Saint-Émilion Grand Vin de Bordeaux 2023, France

I tasted this wine in Bordeaux at Chateau Magnol in early July as well as at my tasting desk here in Auckland

2023, Bordeaux, Bordeaux Style Right Bank, Red blendCameron DouglasAugust 9, 2025Thomas Barton, Reserve, Saint-Émilion, Grand Vin de Bordeaux, France

SOHO Family Vineyards Reserve JC 2021, Waiheke Island

SOHO Family Vineyards Reserve JC 2021, Waiheke Island

Winemaker James Rowan…

2021, Red blendCameron DouglasAugust 2, 2025Soho Family Vineyards, SOHO, Reserve, JC, Waiheke Island, Red Blend

Destiny Bay 'Magna Praemia' 2022, Waiheke Island

Destiny Bay 'Magna Praemia' 2022, Waiheke Island

An excellent, focused and well made wine, an investment, but worth it.

2022, Bordeaux Style Left Bank, Red blendCameron DouglasJuly 30, 2025Destiny Bay, Magna Praemia, Waiheke Island, Bordeaux Style, Red Blend

Destiny Bay 'Mystae' 2022, Waiheke Island

Destiny Bay 'Mystae' 2022, Waiheke Island

A wine that will age well over the next 10-20 years

Bordeaux Style Left Bank, Red blendCameron DouglasJuly 30, 2025Destiny Bay, Mystae, Waiheke Island, Bordeaux Style, Red Blend

Destiny Bay 'Destinae' 2022, Waiheke Island

Destiny Bay 'Destinae' 2022, Waiheke Island

Another example of excellent winemaking from the Destiny Bay team

2022, Bordeaux Style Left Bank, Red blendCameron DouglasJuly 30, 2025Destiny Bay, Destinae, Waiheke Island, Red Blend, Bordeaux Style

Askerne Single Vineyard CSM 2023, Hawke's Bay

Askerne Single Vineyard CSM 2023, Hawke's Bay

A unique blend with a fleshy texture and lots of ripe red berry fruit flavours

2023, Carmenere, Red blendCameron DouglasJuly 23, 2025Askerne, Single Vineyard, CSM, Red Blend, Carmenere, syrah, Mourvèdre

Takapoto Estate Crossing Point Red 2021, Lake Karapiro, Waikato

Takapoto Estate Crossing Point Red 2021, Lake Karapiro, Waikato

Full-bodied and dry, a wine full of dark berries and …

2021, Red blendCameron DouglasJuly 23, 2025Takapoto Estate, Crossing Point, Red, Lake Karapiro, Waikato, Red Blend

Vinho Regional Alentejano Terras Lusas Vinho Tinto 2021, Adega de Redondo, Portugal

Vinho Regional Alentejano Terras Lusas Vinho Tinto 2021, Adega de Redondo, Portugal

Youthful, ripe and fruity

2021, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasJuly 10, 2025Vinho Regional Alentejano, Terras Lusas, Vinho Tinto, Adega de Redondo, Portugal, Red Wine

La Vieille Ferme Rouge 2023, France

La Vieille Ferme Rouge 2023, France

Fleshy textures and fruity with fine tannins

2023, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasJuly 10, 2025La Vie Ferme, Rouge, Red Wine, France

Wild Estate Wanderlust 'The Reds' 2022, Waiheke Island

Wild Estate Wanderlust 'The Reds' 2022, Waiheke Island

Full-bodied and rich in flavour and textures, firm tannins deliver a youthful power and mouthfeel,

2022, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasApril 21, 2025Wild Estate, Wanderlust, The Reds, Red Blend, Waiheke Island

Stormwood 'Meritage' 2021, Waiheke Island, Auckland

Stormwood 'Meritage' 2021, Waiheke Island, Auckland

A complete wine

2021, Meritage, Red blendCameron DouglasApril 18, 2025Stormwood, Meritage, 2021, Waiheke Island, Auckland

Brick Bay 'Martello Rock' 2021, Matakana, Auckland

Brick Bay 'Martello Rock' 2021, Matakana, Auckland

Very stylish

2021, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasJanuary 7, 2025Brick Bay, Matakana, Auckland, Red Blend

Barton & Guestier 'Bordeaux Super Blend' 2020, France

Barton & Guestier 'Bordeaux Super Blend' 2020, France

Dry, youthful, firm and textured…

2020, Red blend, Red WineCameron DouglasJanuary 7, 2025Barton & Guestier, Red Wine, 2020, France

Cable Bay Estate Vineyard 'Five Hills' Malbec Merlot 2020, Waiheke Island

Cable Bay Estate Vineyard 'Five Hills' Malbec Merlot 2020, Waiheke Island

Dry, taut, youthful and fruity at the core…

2020, Malbec Merlot, Red blendCameron DouglasDecember 12, 2024Cable Bay, Estate Vineyard, Five Hills, Malbec Merlot, Waiheke Island

Atípico 'Under the Plum Tree' 2023, Rapaura, Marlborough

Atípico 'Under the Plum Tree' 2023, Rapaura, Marlborough

Flavours and textures on the palate includes plum and red cherry some aged or …

2023, Field Blend Red, Organic, Red blendCameron DouglasDecember 12, 2024Atípico, Under the Plum Tree, Rapaura, Marlborough, Organic, Field Blend, Red Blend