The vines may be farmed in the same way, a similar clonal mix, yet sometimes even a small portion of a vineyard can have a very different expression.
Parcels are often blended together for complexity, but as with today’s collection, winemakers may seek to showcase that difference in expression, capturing it in the bottle.
Intellectually stimulating, and a highly pleasurable exercise to taste.
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $84.99
Rating Outstanding
Starts off somewhat
brooding, then delightful
perfume evolves.
Darker fruits, a savoury
quality, a wisp of toffee
(oak?). The nose gives
an impression of
richness but this is
chewy and tannic. Real
structure here, black
tea, darker fruits pop
their head over the
parapet, adding spice
and savoury elements.
Vibrancy and energy,
the fruit flooding the
palate. Lovely.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $85
Rating Excellent
Dark cherry, savoury,
wisps of warm leather,
spices, wood smoke ,
engaging and
interesting nose. Ripe
yet not oversweet,
sumptuousness,
mixed berry fruit, wild
herbs, lavender,
tannins neatly
integrated. With
aeration its youthful
side shows, the
tannins build, adding a
grainy aspect, arms
tucked in, asking for a
little time. Rather nice
though.
www.valliwine.com
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $84.99
Rating Outstanding
Lovely perfume/
fragrance, dusty notes,
wisps of wild herb.
Subtle fruit at first,
savoury touches
building. Quite a lively,
almost tingly palate
adds real vibrancy.
Bright acidity, a lick of
salinity, savoury and
wild thyme elements
opening up,
deceptively
concentrated and very
engaging. The flavours
hang on the long close.
Lovely already yet full
of potential.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $75
Rating Excellent
Bolder, savoury notes,
a little forest floor
complexity, mushroom,
tilled earth. Flavours are
powerfully expressed,
savoury notes again,
charcuterie, wild herb, a
stony/gravelly aspect,
the fruit in balance
to back it all up. For
all its power,
there’s a deftness
of touch and it’s
less about the fruit,
rather the
complexity. Already
open, yet potential
too.
www.valliwine.com
2021 Carrick Arthur’s Vineyard
Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Price RRP $65
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
A fleeting wild and funky note
evolves to earth, forest floor,
flecks of mint and spice
with richness to the fruit
expression, bonfire
embers later. Fascinating
palate, a real grainy
aspect to the tannins,
surprisingly powerful
backbone with an
undercurrent of
coolness/cool mint.
Wild herbs and fruit
depth on the long, dry
close. Nice elements that
time will meld.
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $75
Rating Excellent
Wood smoke, oak
seasoning, mixed berry
fruit, a fragrant aspect
building, a whisper of
funk later. Richness to
the fruit expression,
stony minerality/blood
and iron filings, an
underlying
savouriness.
Concentration here,
yet the bright acidity
keeps this fresh, as
the tannins quietly
build. The fruit swells
to match it all on the
long, dry finish.
Vineyard Parkburn Pinot Noir
Price RRP $84.99
Rating Excellent
Earthy, savoury, wild herb,
fruit tucked in, feels more
evolved. Lighter-bodied
style, understated
perhaps but there’s
ethereality and
delicacy on offer that
creeps up on you.
The red fruits swell,
as it opens up,
spices and savoury
notes appear. Fine,
elegant, delightful
pinosity. Already lots
to enjoy, but may well
surprise in the cellar.
Vineyard Bannockburn
Pinot Noir
Price RRP $84.99
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Dustiness, sweet florality,
raspberry, wisps of hard
candy, a marmitey umami
character. The palate offers
black tea, lead pencil,
umami touches, dried
herb and raspberry, a
sense of delicacy to
this before the
surprisingly chewy
tannins kick in. With air
a gorgeous nose, acidity
kicks in giving lift and
vibrancy with tangy
cranberry on the close.
Ethereal, super stuff.
