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 2020

Q Wine Pinot Noir 2020, Waitaki Valley

Q Wine Pinot Noir 2020, Waitaki Valley

Best drinking from day of purchase through 2030+

2020, Pinot NoirCameron DouglasApril 22, 2026Q Wine, pinot noir, Waitaki Valley

Nockie's Palette 'Georgetown' Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago

Nockie's Palette 'Georgetown' Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago

Aromas and flavours of a developing and complete wine

2020, Pinot NoirCameron DouglasApril 21, 2026Nockie's Palette, 2020, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, Georgetown

Pegasus Bay Muscat 2020, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury

Pegasus Bay Muscat 2020, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury

Fantastic bouquet filled with a ripe and vibrant fruit core…

2020, MuscatCameron DouglasApril 13, 2026Pegasus Bay, Muscat, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury

Esses 'Abode' 2020 Methode Traditionnelle, Kaikoura, NZ

Esses 'Abode' 2020 Methode Traditionnelle, Kaikoura, NZ

A bold and expressive bouquet packed with scents of …

2020, Methode Traditionelle, Methode Traditionnelle, SparklingCameron DouglasMarch 19, 2026Esses, Abode, 2020., Kaikoura, Sparkling

Mills Reef Winery 'Elspeth' Cabernet Merlot 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Mills Reef Winery 'Elspeth' Cabernet Merlot 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

A wine of concentration and power with …

2020, Cabernet MerlotCameron DouglasMarch 7, 2026Mills Reef Winery, Elspeth, Cabernet Merlot, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Mills Reef Winery 'Elspeth' Merlot 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Mills Reef Winery 'Elspeth' Merlot 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

An excellent bouquet and palate….

2020, MerlotCameron DouglasMarch 1, 2026Mills Reef Winery, Elspeth, merlot, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Taylors St Andrew's Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Clare Valley

Taylors St Andrew's Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Clare Valley

As with the previous tasting of this wine - it is just simply delicious, classic and totally the Taylors style

2020, Cabernet SauvignonCameron DouglasJanuary 20, 2026Taylors, St Andrews, cabernet sauvignon, Clare Valley

Taylors St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Clare Valley

Taylors St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Clare Valley

There’s no mistaking the power and definitive frame

2020, Cabernet SauvignonCameron DouglasNovember 23, 2025Taylors, St Andrews, cabernet sauvignon, Clare Valley

Fancrest Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2020, Omihi, North Canterbury

Fancrest Estate Reserve Pinot Noir 2020, Omihi, North Canterbury

Complex and developing

2020, Natural Wine, Organic, Pinot Noir, Vegan FriendlyCameron DouglasNovember 16, 2025Fancrest Estate, Reserve, Pinot Noir, Omihi, North Canterbury, Vegan friendly, Natural Wine, Organic

Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir 2020, Omihi, North Canterbury

Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir 2020, Omihi, North Canterbury

A distinctive mineral core

2020, Natural Wine, Organic, Pinot Noir, Vegan FriendlyCameron DouglasNovember 16, 2025Fancrest Estate, Pinot Noir, Omihi, North Canterbury, Organic, Natural Wine, Vegan friendly

Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2020, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury

Fancrest Estate Pinot Noir Rosé 2020, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury

Taut, dry and ready

2020, Rosé, Pinot Rosé, Organic, Natural WineCameron DouglasNovember 15, 2025Fancrest Estate, Pinot Noir Rosé, Rosé, Waipara Valley, North Canterbury, Organic, Natural Wine, Vegan friendly

Jackson Estate 'Somerset' SV Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough

Jackson Estate 'Somerset' SV Pinot Noir 2020, Marlborough

An excellent example

2020, Pinot NoirCameron DouglasNovember 1, 2025Jackson Estate, Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir, 2020, Waihopai Valley, Marlborough

Hunter's MiruMiru Méthode Traditionnelle 2020, Marlborough

Hunter's MiruMiru Méthode Traditionnelle 2020, Marlborough

An excellent wine

2020, Méthode TraditionnelleCameron DouglasOctober 31, 2025Hunter's, Méthode Traditionnelle, Marlborough

Marisco Diamond Heart Waihopai Cuvée 2020, Marlborough

Marisco Diamond Heart Waihopai Cuvée 2020, Marlborough

A lovely wine with a compact core of …

2020, SparklingCameron DouglasOctober 18, 2025Marisco, Diamond Heart, Waihopai Cuvée, Cuvée, Marlborough

Marisco Diamond Heart Blanc de Blancs 2020, Marlborough

Marisco Diamond Heart Blanc de Blancs 2020, Marlborough

Crisp, and dry

2020, SparklingCameron DouglasOctober 18, 2025Marisco, Diamond Heart, Blanc de Blancs, Marlborough, Sparkling Wine

Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah 2020, Hawkes Bay

Coopers Creek Reserve Syrah 2020, Hawkes Bay

Firm, dry and ready to drink with food from late 2025 through 2030.

2020, SyrahCameron DouglasSeptember 12, 2025Coopers Creek, Reserve, Syrah, Hawkes Bay

Domaine Thomson Explorer Reserve Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago

Domaine Thomson Explorer Reserve Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago

A lovely bouquet and palate

2020, Pinot Noir, OrganicCameron DouglasSeptember 5, 2025Domaine Thomson, Explorer, Reserve, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, Organic

Blank Canvas 'Element Vineyard' Syrah 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

Blank Canvas 'Element Vineyard' Syrah 2020, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay

An exceptional cooler climate NZ example

2020, Gimblett Gravels, SyrahCameron DouglasJuly 29, 2025Blank Canvas, Element Vineyard, syrah, Gimblett Gravels, Hawke's Bay