Gary SteelWitchdoctor’s wine guru PHIL PARKER is back with another behemoth of vinous voluptuousness. March madness ensues!
Thirteen lucky wines for March!
Giesen Gemstone Marlborough Riesling 2021 $20
Crisp, light and bursting with flavour. 11.5% alcohol with a hint of spritzy CO2, and flavours of lime zest, jasmine, canned peach, a hint of tropical lychee and muscat grape juice.
Available: finewinedelivery.co.nz
Giesen Marlborough Riesling 2022 $14
Again, crisp and fruity with lively acidity and raisiny freshness, citrus notes and 11% alcohol. A great summer quencher.
Available: winesale.co.nz
Pegasus Bay North Canterbury Riesling 2020 $32
Full-bodied and concentrated, with a slightly funky nose and aromas of ripe grapefruit. Medium sweet at 13% alcohol. A rich and lengthy palate of grapefruit marmalade, lemon and beeswax.
Available: Fine O Wines, Pt Chev Organic Wines, Herne Bay Cellars
Astrolabe Awatere Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $27
A very approachable softer style of sav, with a respectable 13% alcohol. Tropical flavours of pineapple, melon and passionfruit dominate, backed up by a dash of green capsicum and green tomato.
Available: Glengarry, Caro’s
Astrolabe Kekerengu Coast Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2022 $32
Even more subtle than the Awatere Valley, and a tad less alcohol at 13.5%. Elegant and restrained with flavours of gooseberry, melon, fresh-picked peas and a hint of ripe blackcurrant. Delicious!
Available, Caro’s
Domaine des Pothiers La Colline en Flamme Chardonnay 2021 $33
Lightly oaked in a Chablis style. Soft acids, with stone fruit, pear and funky yeasty tang – with a crisp, dry finish.
Available: Fine O Wines, Pt Chev Organic Wines, Dhall & Nash
Domaine des Pothiers La Colline en Flamme Rouge 2021 $29
Smoky, spicy, and youthfully ripe. Flavours of cassis, black currant, dark berry fruits and a funky gaminess. 12% alcohol.
Available: Fine O Wines, Pt Chev Organic Wines, Dhall & Nash
Domaine des Pothiers La Chapelle 2020 $45
Made from a unique clone of Gamay Noir known as “Saint Romain” from the northwest of Lyon. Ripe, rounded and soft with black cherry, cassis and savoury barnyardy hints.
Available: regionalwines.co.nz, Dhall & Nash
Taylors Limestone Coast Clare Valley Shiraz 2020 $16
Soft tannins in a medium Aussie shiraz style. Spice, mocha, plum cake and cassis with a nudge of ruby port.
Available: widely
Taylors Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 $16
Ripe and juicy with soft plummy spice, blackberry, and boysenberry. Sumptuously soft and extremely drinkable at a young age.
Available: widely
Domaine des Pothiers Eclipse Methode Ancestrale 2020 $37
Eclipse is a biodynamic organic ‘methode ancestral’ (aka Pet Nat) sparkling gamay noir rosé from the northern Loire Valley. Medium off-dry with tart citrus, red berry fruit flavours and a strawberries and cream palate. Delightfully fizzy with fine beaded bubbles.
Available: Fine O Wine, Pt. Chev Organic Wines, Dhall & Nash
The Uncommon Wine of New Zealand $29.99 for 4 x 250ml cans
Fizzy wine in a can – hey no problem. Easily chilled and transported for that summer picnic or BBQ. They come in recyclable aluminium cans, each containing a third of a regular bottle of wine.
The Uncommon Wine Bubbly White
Carbonated sauvignon blanc from Marlborough. Typical sauv flavours of passionfruit, guava and gooseberry with crisp citrus acidity.
The Uncommon Wine Bubbly Rosé
Pinot noir rosé with the fun of spritzy bubbles. Dry and crisp Provence style with red summer berry flavours and a crisp finish.
Available: Farro Grey Lynn, wearetheuncommon.co.nz
