Phil Parker2021 was a shit year for everyone. PHIL PARKER shares an array of splendid wines to help us imagine a better 2022.
Astrolabe Marlborough Rosé 2021 $24
A refreshing blend of pinot noir and pinot gris from the Awatere Valley. Light flavours of peach juice, cherry, strawberries, with creamy soft acids. Deceptively very drinkable at 13% alcohol.
Available: Caro’s
Astrolabe Comleybank Waihopai Valley Rosé 2021 $27
More in the bone-dry Provence style. Subtle aromas with a hint of savoury pinot noir. Cranberry and sour cherry with a hint of strawberry.
Available: Caro’s
Rockburn Stolen Kiss Central Otago Rosé 2021 $29
Made from grapes ‘stolen’ from Rockburn’s best Central Otago pinot noir. Herbaceous aromas, flavours of toffee apple, pomegranate and strawberry, with a medium sweet juicy finish.
Available: Glengarry, Meldrum Philips
Leftfield Hawkes Bay Rosé 2021 $16
A blend of merlot, pinot noir, and white Italian variety arneis. Dry and crisp, with cranberry and a hint of red-skinned toffee apple and red wine gums.
Available: Widely
Sartori Prosecco Northern Italy Rosé 2019 $25
A delightfully light and approachable rosé in the sparkling prosecco style. Soft flavours of cherry and red berry fruit. Ideal as a lunchtime picnic wine at 11% alcohol.
Available: www.vinofino.co.nz Dhall and Nash
Soljans Estate Marlborough Legacy Methode 2019 $36
From Soljans in Kumeu. Creamy crisp texture, fine beads of bubbles, toasty and mouth-filling. A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay.
Available: Glengarry, www.soljans.co.nz
No 1 Family Estate Rosé Non-Vintage $47
Made from 100% pinot noir. In the mouth, it has a rich and complex palate of cherry/almond, a hint of strawberry and a tangy yeasty mid-palate with a dry, mineral finish.
Available: Widely, and Pt Chev Organic wines, Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Assemblé Non-Vintage $31.50
Mouth-filling and rich flavours of stone fruit, nougat, Mum’s apple pie and stone fruit, with a dry mineral tangy finish. 60% chardonnay, 35% pinot noir, 5% pinot meunier
Available: Widely, and Pt Chev Organic wines, Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Cuvee Non-Vintage $33
Made from 100% chardonnay in a blanc de blanc style. Crisp and dry with stone fruit, lemon zest, clover honey and a hint of yeasty brioche with fine beaded bubbles.
Available: Widely, and Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Cuveé Adele 2016 $270
Limited release of just 150 bottles. Crafted by Daniel Le Brun for his wife Adele (hello, it’s me!), this is the 3rd release. Superbly elegant wine, an 80/20 chardonnay/pinot noir blend. Dry, with a creamy mousse, crisp citrus acidity, brioche yeasty tang and floral stone fruit flavours.
Available: www.no1familyestate.co.nz
Billecart Brut Nature Champagne Non-Vintage $105
Bone dry, crisp and yeasty. Classic elegant and dry champagne, with flavours of almond croissant, clear apple juice and lime citrus. Long tangy, yeasty finish.
Available: Meldrum Philips, Pt Chev Organic wines, www.blackmarket.co.nz
Billecart Brut Nature Rosé Champagne Non-Vintage $160
Elegant and frothy, with subtle flavours of cherry, cranberry, almond and red berries. A lovely aperitif wine or match it with light appetisers.
Available: Dhall and Nash
Domaine Rene Muré Crémant d’Alsace Brut Non-Vintage $32
Made from pinot gris, pinot noir, riesling, pinot blanc. Crisp and refreshing, with a frothy fine mousse and generous palate of marzipan, apple pie and citrus.
Available: Four Candles Food Market, Pt Chev Organic wines, Fine O Wine
Strange Nature Gin $80
Giesen’s 0% brand sauvignon blanc is made using imported technology that removes alcohol from base wine. Strange Nature gin is produced by distilling that leftover spirit with juniper to create a uniquely New Zealand gin, with pronounced grassy sauvignon flavours, of passionfruit, cape gooseberry and a hint of lychee.
Available: www.cove27.co.nz www.whiskyandmore.co.nz www.vineonline.co.nz
Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Reserve Fortissimo Fortified Muscat $42
A dessert wine fortified to 16% alcohol. Late picked muscat grapes give an intense, sweet, luscious palate of dried muscatel raisins, apricot jam and lemon. Lengthy finish.
Available: www.pegasusbay.com
Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Finale Noble Semillon Sauvignon 2019 $42
Barrel fermented and oak-aged, plus concentrated by ‘noble rot’. Intense flavours of apricot marmalade, hazelnut, toffee and preserved pineapple with a crisp acidic nudge of sauvignon blanc.
Available: Fine Wine Delivery Co., www.pegasusbay.com
Niepoort Ruby Port Non-Vintage 750ml $40
Sweet and voluptuous in the typical Portuguese ruby port style. Garnet red in the glass. Cassis and fruitcake, with a dash of tannin and lengthy finish. 19.5% alcohol.
Available: Dhall and Nash, www.moorewilsons.co.nz
Fernando de Castilla Pedro Ximenez Classic Sherry 750ml $43.
Christmas in a glass! Plum pudding, molasses, dried fruit and liquorice. Decadently rich.
Available: Advintage, Vino Fino, Dhall and Nash
