A 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 […]
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 […]
readStructural confidence and fruit concentration meet poised control, grand endurance and profound persistence, confirming one of the great New Zealand pinots for the cellar. It’s beautifully cohesive, while structured for the long haul, thanks to serious tannins of confident grip, yet upholding finely textured mouth feel. The fragrance captures understated and alluring mineral notes and […]
readGrant Taylor’s Valli has a fifteen year future before it, thanks to its drive and grip of tightly-focused, mineral-infused tannins. Red cherry fruit and dried herb notes linger with good persistence, true to this outstanding season in Central Otago. $60 at United Cellars and Cellar d’Or (2011)
readRippon was one of Central Otago’s first vineyards and has risen to become one of the finest in the country. 2011 is a brilliant rendition of captivating exotic complexity and breathtakingly fine structure. Its fine-tuned palate is a vinous replica of the mineral schist of this inimitable site, finely textured and driving in its grand […]
read