Phil Parker
When PHIL PARKER isn’t drinking and writing about it he’s taking avid drinkers on tours of Auckland wineries. Below is a superb selection of his current tipples.
Whyte Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $22
Not the big, punchy typical Marlborough style. Light, elegant and subtle at 12.5% ABV. Fresh squeezed black currant, cape gooseberry. Dry, clean mandarin citrus finish.
Available: Dhall & Nash blackmarket.com
Folium Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2023 $31
Similarly subtle lighter style, but a step up in intensity and alcohol at 13.5% ABV. More intense gooseberry, slightly creamy, with mandarin citrus. Dry, lengthy finish.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Fine O Wine blackmarket.com
Loveblock Marlborough Gewürztraminer (organic/vegan) 2023 $24
From Kim Crawford’s Awatere Valley organic vineyard. An epic NZ gewürztraminer. So much going on – passionfruit, ginger in syrup, makrut lime, Turkish Delight, mandarin marmalade, tangy yeast and sweet honeysuckle. Lengthy medium sweet finish. Absolute bargain.
Available: Fine O Wine, Glengarry blackmarket.com
Whyte Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2023 $21
Crisp, lean, dry and elegant. Subtle floral citrus aromas. Minerality, raw almond, light oaky spice, apricot, quince, lemon and nectarine. Bone dry finish.
Available: Dhall & Nash
Main Divide North Canterbury Chardonnay 2023 $22
Five stars! Stunningly good chardonnay. Straw gold with a hint of reductive funky aroma. Generous and packed with flavour. Grapefruit marmalade, crème brulé, poached nectarine, golden queen peach and apricot. Lengthy glorious finish.
Available: pegasusbay.com finewinedelivery.co.nz
Château Gassier Esprit Gassier Provence Esprit Rosé 2022 $26
Bone dry, typical Provence rosé. Lean and crisp, yet at 13.5% ABV. Nuanced hints of strawberries and cream, almond cherry nougat, and pink marshmallows. Clean citrus lime finish.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Fine O Wine, Liquorland
McArthur Ridge Brassknocker Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $25
New Zealand Pinot Noir Trophy and a gold at the 2024 NZ International Wine Challenge. A bargain. Very much on the funky, earthy end of the spectrum. Gamey and earthy, with mushroom, truffle, cassis, blackberry fruit, stewed plum and smoky, dry lengthy finish.
Available: New World, vineonline.co.nz vinofino.co.nz mcarthurridge.com
Frank Cornellisen Susucaru Sicily Rosso (organic, natural) $56
Frank Cornellisen is a cult figure in the Sicilian wine scene and beyond. His approach is ‘hands-off’ winemaking with very little intervention, and fermentation in neutral epoxy-lined containers. This wine is made from indigenous nerello mascalese grapes. This is quite a challenging wine. It looks like a light plum red rose, but is very tannic, with subtle red cherry, raspberry, plum and savoury earthy mushroom.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Fine O Wine bythebottle.co.nz
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir (organic) 2022 $43
Consistently great pinot noir from Rockburn. Elegant light-bodied yet generous and seductive. A softer style of pinot, with ripe red and black cherry fruit, Black Doris plum, Christmas cake spices and a light soy sauce umami. Soft tannins.
Available: widely.
De Martino Estate Maipo Chile Carmenère 2022 $25
Big, inky and earthy. Smoky and gamey flavours with Cuban cigar, black plum, dark chocolate, prune and truffle. 14% ABV. Assertive, yet medium tannins. Long dry funky finish.
Available: Dhall & Nash, Fine O Wine blackmarket.com
