Pinot noir is the most widely planted red grape in New Zealand, making up 70% of our red grape vines and just over 15% of our total vineyard area.
Nearly 85% of that pinot noir is planted in the South Island, though it is worth remembering that a significant portion of that is given over to the production of sparkling wines.
Marlborough leads the way with the greatest area devoted to pinot noir, followed by Central Otago, Wairarapa, Waipara, Hawke's Bay and Nelson.
This week afforded an opportunity to taste a range of Marlborough and Waipara pinot noirs, which were tasted blind with the help of my regular panellists, Dunedin wine enthusiasts Alastair McLaren and Ricky Collins.
Price: About $20
Rating: Good
Rather floral and fragrant nose with fruit hinting at plum and rhubarb.
Supple entry.
Clean, fruit- driven style; aeration brings a touch of candyfloss.
Not particularly complex but a very easy drinking style.
A bit of a sweet and sour thing going on on the finish.
Price: $17.99
Rating: Very good
Darker fruits with tilled earth/humus notes.
A little bit brooding on nose and palate with some lead pencil/pencil shavings.
Noticeable fruit intensity hinting at blackberry.
Well structured and almost chewy on the palate with spiciness and a whisper of pepper on the finish.
Lip smacking and juicy.
Great value here.
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Price: $24.99
Rating: Good
Floral and dark fruits with a hint of burnt toast.
Juicy palate with sweet fruits leading to a little sour jube on the close, which adds interest.
Good fruit weight: the tannins build up with time.
Aeration brings out a spicy note.
Price: $24.99
Rating: Very good
Quite powerful but refined nose with Dawson cherry leaping out of the glass.
Supple entry with a nice, sweet fruit expression.
Very good balance here, with finely integrated tannins and some toastiness and spices on the long and pleasing finish.
Vibrant and appealing wine with a lot of interest.
Price: About $28
Rating: Excellent
The beginnings of some secondary characters here: appealing funky notes hinting at salami.
Subtle dark fruits and oak.
Lovely texture with a silky palate: very good fruit intensity with that hint of gaminess adding complexity.
This really opened up and became complete with time in the glass: everything in sync and rather delightful.
Price: $28
Rating: Good
Quite reserved on the nose with burnt matchstick. Not particularly expressive at first: quite tightly wound and grippy on the mid palate.
This opened up quite a lot with time: sweet fruit hinting at raspberry, then, more plummy notes with aeration.
A sweet and sour finish. Give this a splash in a jug to get air into it.
