Great to see enticingly appealing New Zealand pinot on Australian shelves under $30. John Forrest’s Marlborough is elegant, harmonious and effortlessly balanced in its vibrant red cherry and strawberry fruits, gently supported by finely poised tannins and refreshing acidity. $24 at Wine Box Warehouse (2011).
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Auntsfield’s vines reached a decade of age in 2010 and their fruits are already displaying even flow and great balance. This is a fruit-focused style, supported by very fine, confident tannins and mineral texture, promising another decade of potential. Released later than most, this is an estate to watch as those vines mature. $30 at […]
readA standout for its price, all the more commendable in a vintage that did not flatter all in Marlborough. This elegant style accurately captures the character of Marlborough pinot noir in rose petal perfume, tangy red cherries, strawberries and pink pepper. It’s a graceful and effortless wine, underlined by finely structured, softly textural tannins that […]
readA rousing celebration of the deep black fruits of Central Otago within a beautifully structured and enduring frame. Pure black cherry, black plum and berry compote are lifted by violet perfume and spiced up with notes of pepper. Finely textured, beautifully structured tannins confirm a stunning New Zealand pinot at a great price. $33 at […]
readMaude is on the ascent, and its harmonious estate wine is a well-crafted and ageworthy style that represents good value for money. A blend of a number of subregions, capturing berry/cherry fruits and mixed spice of focused intent, fragranced with an air of rose petal, neatly framed in tangy acidity and finely textured, well structured […]
readAn alluring and pretty Dog Point and a triumph for the season. It takes the tangy style of Marlborough 2012 and builds deep intensity of black cherry fruit, cherry kernel complexity and violet perfume. It achieves this with quite some energy and drive, yet upholds its integrity in confident, finely structured tannins, and excellent persistence, […]
readPoised for a decade-long future, Sam Neil’s Two Paddocks has refined a good deal in recent years, arriving at a happy place of lifted allure of tangy, bright red berry/cherry fruits, long-lingering presence and impressive scaffolding of fine, firm tannins. $40 at Corkscrew Cellars (2011).
readSuch is its gorgeous nose of rose hip, pure red cherries and subtle exotic spice that you could inhale Peregrine for hours. But don’t miss its beautifully pure palate of elegant, lingering red cherry fruit, underlined by fine, well-structured tannins. $43 at First Choice.
readQuartz Reef has found its mojo in 2012, an elegant pinot noir of focus and longevity. It’s pretty, fragrant and beautifully textured, propelled by enduring tannin structure and a lovely undercurrent of finely mineral texture, highlights accurate red cherry and raspberry fruit and lifted rose petal perfume. $43 at Wine Box Warehouse.
readA recent vertical tasting revealed not only the propensity for Mount Difficulty Pinot Noir to age effortlessly, but also the calibre of the 2012 as one of the finest yet. It’s easy to underestimate Mount Difficulty on release, particularly within the context of more immediate Central Otago pinots. Mount Difficulty, by comparison, is a wine […]
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