Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 is a Central Otago Chardonnay from a 1.8 ha block at the Kopuwai Delta Vineyard in Pisa. This wine has lemon, yellow stone fruit and jasmine, with a mealy, wheaty note, a chalky texture and a very long finish. It suits Chardonnay drinkers who like a complex, layered, mineral style.
The nose is lemon and yellow stone fruit with white jasmine, and then a mealy, wheaty note that gives away the barrel work. On the palate it's lemon curd and roasted wheat, with a chalky texture and bright acidity.
Prophet's Rock made 22 barrels of the 2023. It's a Chardonnay for people who like a savoury, textured style, and it's worth opening for a dinner with good food.
This wine comes from one 1.8 ha Chardonnay block on the Kopuwai Delta Vineyard, and François Millet directs all the winemaking elements. It's the white wine in the Cuvée aux Antipodes range.
What it tastes like
This is a gorgeous wine, pale straw in colour. The aromas on the nose are very complex, with lemon citrus and yellow stone fruit mixed with mealy, wheaty notes (the biscuity, bready smell that comes from ageing on yeast) and white jasmine.
On the palate there's yellow fruit, lemon curd and roasted wheat, with a chalky texture and lively acidity. The finish is long, with stone fruit and citrus lingering, and it develops further if the wine is decanted.
Style at a glance
- Body: medium to full
- Sweetness: dry
- Acidity: bright
- Oak: 19 months in barrel, 13% new
- Style: mealy, chalky, citrus, stone fruit, long
Food to enjoy this with
Delightful to enjoy on its own, but elevated when paired with good food. Roast chicken with lemon and butter, crayfish, pan-fried snapper with brown butter, creamy mushroom pasta and a triple-cream cheese all suit its rich texture and acidity. One unexpected match is a good roast pork with crackling, because the acidity cuts through the fat while the wheaty note echoes the crackling.
Who makes it
Prophet's Rock is in Bendigo, Central Otago. Paul Pujol is the winemaker, and François Millet is consultant winemaker. Francois directs the winemaking on this wine.
The Chardonnay is handpicked, whole-bunch pressed and fermented in barrel with wild yeast, then goes through malolactic fermentation (the conversion of sharp malic acid to softer lactic acid) with wild yeast. It spent 19 months in barrel, 13% new. The Kopuwai Delta block has fine schist, glacial and alluvial soils, and yields are managed to 25–30 hl/ha, about 3.5–4 t/ha. The 2023 fruit was picked on 23 March.
About the vintage
Sophie Parker-Thomson (Master of Wine), writing for Jancis Robinson, described the 2023 Central Otago season as a dream lead-in, with very little rain from December to mid-February. A severe cold snap in late March slowed ripening and pushed the harvest window into late April.
Prophet's Rock picked the fruit for this wine on 23 March 2023.
When to drink it
Prophet's Rock recommends decanting this wine for full expression in its youth, and cellaring it for 10+ years from vintage.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Prophet's Rock |
| Wine: |
Cuvée aux Antipodes Blanc |
| Vintage: |
2023 |
| Variety: |
Chardonnay |
| Region: |
Central Otago (Pisa) |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Alcohol: |
13.0% |
| Oak: |
19 months in barrel (13% new) |
| Fermentation: |
Wild yeast, in barrel; wild malolactic fermentation |
| Closure: |
Diam cork |
| Cellaring: |
10+ years from vintage |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 is available via our winenz.com website. For delivery in New Zealand you can purchase from thewineryonline.co.nz. If you are visiting New Zealand, you can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine.
Questions we are often asked
What does Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 taste like?
Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 has lemon, yellow stone fruit and jasmine on the nose, with a mealy, wheaty note. The palate is lemon curd and roasted wheat, chalky and very long.
What grape is Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc?
Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc is Chardonnay, from a 1.8 ha block at the Kopuwai Delta Vineyard in Pisa, Central Otago.
How long can I cellar Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023?
Prophet's Rock recommends cellaring it for 10+ years from vintage, and decanting it if drinking it young.
How much Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 was made?
Prophet's Rock made 22 barrels of the 2023 Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc.
Where can I buy Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023?
The Winery ships Prophet's Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes Blanc 2023 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. It is also available in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
