Better is the 2008 Pinot Gris, the first proper commercial release, sourced from Ponui Island. It has an engaging nose of chalk dust, citrus lemon and a touch of passion fruit and honeycomb with superb clarity. The palate is well balanced with subtle tropical fruits: star fruit, white peach and nectarine – fresh and lively, eking out the nuances of Pinot Gris without rendering it too phenolic or blowsy. Good winemaking here and great potential. Now...where the hell is Ponui Island and how to I get there? Idyllic Waiheke Island has enormous potential given its volcanic soils and microclimates on the eastern part of the island and Man ‘O War is one of its most promising producers, especially now that they have Duncan McTavish (ex-Waipara Springs and Pegusas Bay) at the helm.US importer being confirmed at time of writing.