Raise a toast
In just a few days, primary, intermediate and secondary school youngsters finally go back to their bastions of daily learning and social development. This column is dedicated to their very pliant parents and carers …
MUDBRICK RESERVE WAIHEKE ISLAND CHARDONNAY 2018 $54
Patrick Newton is the young force majeure behind this Waiheke Island icon, crafting wines that seem to be on the market only for a matter of weeks before they’re snapped up by wily fans. You should try to snaffle a bottle of this stonkingly good 2018 vintage to enjoy its classic aromatics of buttered crumpet, butterscotch, grilled grapefruit and preserved peachy notes that burst from the glass and wash across the palate.
Sip with: garlic and herb butterflied chicken. mudbrick.co.nz
MAMMOTH SPECTACULAR RUSTGILL NELSON PINOT GRIS 2016 $40
The man behind Mammoth is none other than the larger-than-life-and-equally-as-hairy Michael Glover, ex-winemaker for Mahana Vineyards in Nelson. His organic, biodynamically produced pinot gris has such a gorgeous, rusty, coppery colour that he’s named it after a fabulous-looking, large orange fungus, the gymnopilus junonius or spectacular rustgill. A hint of skin contact adds texture and weight to its pear, poached quince, peach and strudel spice layers. Rich, concentrated and crammed with flavour.
Sip with: a slab of Whitestone Windsor Blue. greatlittlevineyards.com
MAIMAI RIGHT BANK HAWKE’S BAY MERLOT CABERNET FRANC 2013 $14.90
It’s the cabernet franc that injects dried herb, bitter cocoa and floral intensity to this fleshpot of a merlot. Peppery, hints of comforting coughdrop and Christmas pudding spices add buckets of flavour that combine with fresh acidity and tannins boasting grip and complexity. Mal McLennan is the man behind the wine, one of the hardest-working wine guys in Hawke’s Bay — there’s no part of the process that he’s not up to his ears in.
Sip with: meaty, eggplanty moussaka. pointwines.co.nz YVONNE LORKIN
It’s the cabernet franc that injects dried herb, bitter cocoa and floral intensity to this fleshpot of a merlot.