Aperitivo With Jenn Parr Of Valli

The pure fruit really pops out, with fresh sliced strawberries and citrus. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and linear tannins. It’s really about the tension and crisp citrus nature to this. Drink now. Screw cap. JAMES SUCKLING

Wonderfully complex and new, there’s no mistaking the layers in the bouquet with aromas of place from minerality to ripe red berry fruits of boysenberry and plum then dark cherry and some raspberry suggestions. The scents of baking spices and smoke from barrel are both sweet and lifted as well as complex. A dry and equally complex wine touches the palate with textures and flavours that reflect the bouquet all at once teasing with polished tannins and medium+ acidity then red fruits and spice. Well made with a lengthy finish. Best drinking from 2025 through 2034. CAM DOUGLAS MW

 

The red cherries, plums and mushrooms come through clearly on the nose. Medium-bodied with creamy tannins that are nicely chewy and juicy at the end. There’s softness with tension here. Drink or hold. Screw cap. (94) JAMES SUCKLING

Taut, elegant pinot noir with a mix of dark cherry, floral/rose petal/violet, savoury/baked earth and spicy oak flavours. From a top Gibbston vineyard. A wine with energy and age-ability. (95) BOB CAMPBELL, The Real Review

STAFF PICKS - NICK CAPEL (SYDNEY)

Always a fan of the wines from Jenn Parr, this delectable drop comes from the North Otago region, Waitaki. Aromas of wild strawberry, pomegranate laced with wild thyme, cedar. The beautiful bouquet is followed on the palate with cardamom, allspice, damson plum, strawberry, and tart cherry. Polished tannins, fine and elegant. Sadly, there's no 2023, so make sure to get your fill! NICK

The 2022 Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir is light and fine, both in the glass and aromatically. On the palate, the wine is so fine and littered with crushed shells, river stones and cherry skin. This is fragrant and lithe, pretty and detailed. It is all of these things, but it is not short. It spools through the long finish, like a fishing rod reel in cast. As there will be no 2023 Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir, make hay while the sun shines, I say. A beauty. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap. (94) ERIN LARKIN, The Wine Advocate

Relatively light pinot noir that's not lacking in power. Supple, savoury wine with cherry, raspberry, violet, fresh herbs and spicy oak flavours. On the greener side of the flavour spectrum but has good energy and impressive length. (94) BOB CAMPBELL, The Real Review