Many Central Otago winemakers produce second labels, wines that are less complex or concentrated than their more expensive flagship wines, but which are usually more charming and approachable when young, while the more expensive wines often take a few months of bottle age to come together.
As with all wine at the moment, prices can be volatile and it pays to check supermarket specials.
BEST VALUE
four stars (out of five)
good value VVV
Rich and mouthfilling with hints of dark cherries, dark chocolate and spicy oak with savoury undertones and a long finish.
three and a half stars (out of five)
good value VV
Sweet fruit hinting of plums, mocha, and spicy oak with dusty tannins and a fresh, lively finish.
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value VV
Ripe plums with a hint of mineral, underlying notes of spice and dark chocolate with savoury undertones and a lively finish.
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value VV
Hints of toffee, dark chocolate and spice with cherry fruit, a silky texture and a firm finish.
four stars (out of five)
good value VVV
A dense, savoury, complex wine, perfumed with hints of beeswax, sweet ripe fruit with gamy undertones, a lively edge and crisp, textural finish. Made by Alan Brady, this will develop with bottle age.
four and half stars (out of five)
good value VVV
A blend of wine from vineyards in Gibbston and Bannockburn, this is rich, silky and harmonious with dark and red fruits well integrated with spicy oak, a lively edge and a balanced, long finish. Delicious now and for several years.
ANOTHER GLASS
Surveyor Thomson Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007, $40
four stars (out of five)
average value VVAt four years old this is deliciously integrated, mellowed and mouthfilling with hints of strawberries, cherries, dark chocolate and spice, a firm structure with fine-grained tannins anda long finish.
Bald Hills Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009, $46
three and a half stars (out of five)
below average value V
A youthful wine with hints of dark cherries, mineral, spicy oak and mocha, with a firm, very long finish. It will develop and integrate with bottle age.
Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009, $40
three and a half stars (out of five)
below average value V
Another young wine with potential to develop with bottle age, it's well structured with enough dark fruit supported by spicy oak and hints of dark chocolate and mineral, and promises much.
Bannock Brae Barrel Selection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009, $60
four stars (out of five)
below average value V
With hints of freshly baked biscuits, mouthfilling dark and red fruits, a lovely texture, firm structure, and long finish, this is another restrained, youthful wine that will benefit from more bottle age
Wild Irishman Three Colleens Gibbston Pinot Noir 2009, $33
three and a half stars (out of five)
average value VV
A fragrant young wine from a Gibbston vineyard made by Alan Brady, this is textural and harmonious with charming hints of plums and mineral, with savoury licorice undertones and a crisp, lively finish. Like most wines from Gibbston it will benefit from a few more months bottle age.
