Phil ParkerLocked down with a 19-year-old frustrated at being stuck with the oldies, PHIL PARKER can only reach for the delights of his wine cellar.
Just when we thought our darling teenage daughter had gone to Wellington forever to pursue her studies at Vic Uni, she flew up for a family birthday and got stuck in a Level 4 lockdown.
Yes folks, be careful what you wish for. We had envisioned a very short stay and a warm family catchup, but after a few days, Miss 19 had a fast burnout of living back home with ‘old people’. And meanwhile, we were trying to cater for her new vegetarian diet that also excludes rice, cheese, butter, cow milk, green capsicum (red OK), onions, mashed potato (boiled, fried and roast okay), celery, and Jazz apples. Yet somehow, she managed to consume crumpets, bagels, Whittaker’s chocolate and Baileys Irish Cream. Plus, there were huge piles of washing that appeared randomly in the laundry and used cutlery and crockery abandoned – in the vicinity of, but not inside the dishwasher.
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I’m pleased to report that Miss 19 flew back to Victoria when granted a 24-hour window to fly the coop. Our Level 3 life is now back to abnormal. The house is much tidier and quieter. And she gleefully calls us from Wellington, where she is getting A+ grades at uni, attending plays, eating out and treating herself to cocktail bars. Grrr.
Well, we can drink at least…
Man O’ War Waiheke & Ponui Islands Pinot Gris 2019 $25
Lovely wine. Rich, unctuous and complex. By sheer chance, I found this wine when I reached blindly into the depths of my modest wine cellar under the stairs. I was looking for a white wine to go with our savoury tofu and soba noodle dinner. Great food match as it turned out. Flavours of mandarin, marmalade, lime and stone fruit in a medium sweet style.
Available: Glengarry
Main Divide North Canterbury Chardonnay 2020 $25
Big and bold reductive style from Pegasus Bay’s second-tier label. Flinty with a hint of struck match aroma. Crisp and dry with grapefruit citrus, and canned peach. Lengthy finish. Food match: roast chicken or creamy pasta.
Available: Glengarry, Fine Wine Delivery Co.
Main Divide North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2019 $25
Fresh and youthful, with plum and cherry, and hint of smoky tar. Finishes with umami mushroom and silky tannins. Match with lamb, beef, or mushroom dishes.
Available: Glengarry, Fine Wine Delivery Co.
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $50
Classic Central Otago pinot. Still a young thing from a relatively cool vintage, and could do with cellaring for another 12 months, but drinking very nicely right now. Smoky tar, cassis, boysenberry and a medium acid structure. A fab match for roast lamb, or ratatouille.
Available: widely.
Leftfield The Hatchling Hawkes Bay 2019 $18.00
A heady blend of merlot, tempranillo, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah and grenache. Great value. Very smooth and suave, with flavours of boysenberry, black plum, cracked pepper, dark chocolate and a hint of leather. Match with your best BBQ steak or spicy tomato-based dishes.
Available: Blackmarket.co.nz, leftfieldwines.com
