Phil Parker
Witchdoctor’s wine guru PHIL PARKER has a selection this month that will take you through the last flush of summer drinking.
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 25 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $39
Very approachable and graceful, at a deceptive 13% alcohol. Gooseberry, fresh-picked black currant, passionfruit and a hint of sweetness with medium acids.
Available: widely and saintclair.co.nz
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $39
Even softer than the Block 25. Light and elegant, with a soft and delicate middle palate of rock melon, mango, guava and mandarin citrus.
Available: widely and saintclair.co.nz
Mont’Albano Pinot Grigio Friuli Italy (organic) 2021 $23
Restrained, balanced and elegant with a core of crisp minerality, bound up in guava, clover honey, poached pear, and a hint of sweetness at 12.5% alcohol.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Pt Chev Organic wines blackmarket.co.nz
Château Fuissé, Pouilly- Fuissé “Tête de Cuvée” 2020 $60
From the Macon region of northern Burgundy. A medium-bodied French chardonnay, with 70% oak ageing. Spicy and resiny oak flavours, with creamy yeast, apricot, melon and nectarine – and a hint of blond tobacco and cashew nut. Dry finish.
Available: Peter Maude Fine Wines
Bohemian The Poet Hawkes Bay Pinot Gris 2023
Full-bodied and creamy, with intense flavours. Could be mistaken for a chardonnay. Nectarine, red apple skin, dried fig, dried apricot, and yeasty croissant.
Available: Available: Dhall & Nash blackmarket.co.nz
Bogle California Chardonnay 2021 $27
Almond croissant, creamy and peachy with slight minerality and spicy toast, and dry lengthy finish. Very much on point with the house style from Bogle.
Available: Dhall & Nash blackmarket.co.nz
Lamarca Prosecco NV $26.00
Italian sparkler to appeal to everyone. Smells like apple sauce with a whiff of grassy herbal notes. It is pale gold in the glass with frothy bubbles. Just off-dry, crisp, and fruity with poached pear, apple and a hint of spice.
Available: Pt Chev Organic Wines blackmarket.com
Sartori Prosecco $24
Classic prosecco style, tank-fermented summer bubbles. Fruity and dry with a hint of Packham pear and crisp apple, with a hint of almond nougat.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Pt. Chev Organic Wines blackmarket.com
Sartori Prosecco Rosé DOC NV $24
Fruity and fizzy at 11% alcohol. Strawberries and cream, a hint of cherry pie and a tad of astringency. Clean and crisp.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Farro Fresh blackmarket.com
No 1 Family Estate Assemblé NV $34
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, Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic wines, Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Rosé NV $49
Gold medal winner in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2022. 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, Pt Chev Organic wines, Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Cuveé NV $38
Wow. 99% chardonnay with a tiny 1% pinot noir. So pretty much a ‘blanc de blanc’. Creamy and frothy on the palate. Poached nectarine, yeasty croissant, clover honey, and a gentle mandarin citrus finish. Fabbo.
Available: Widely, Fine O Wine, Pt Chev Organic wines, Glengarry.
No 1 Family Estate Reserve NV $96
Essentially the same wine as the Cuveé but set aside for extended lees ageing for at least 7 years. 98% chardonnay, 2% pinot noir. A rich, creamy palate of toasty oak with nectarine and canned peach. Crisp fresh cut lime citrus, a hint of sweet frangipane tart and lengthy yeasty finish.
No 1 Family Estate Reine Cuvée Reserve NV $63
A brand new reserve wine from No 1 Family as a tribute to the family’s mother, Reine Vautrelle Le Brun, made with the classic chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meuniere blend. Elegant and bone dry – with heaps of umami yeasty croissant, canned peach, Manuka honey, straw, toffee and a hint of cherry pie.
Available: no1familyestate.co.nz Glengarry
