What a pleasure it was to taste these pinot noirs, mostly from Central, and to enjoy the charmand variety from different winemakers and different subregions. A few newer producers arehere - Steve Davies' Doctor's Flat and John Montero and Roberta Manell Montero's Ellerofrom a terrace that juts out above the Pisa Flats.
BEST VALUE
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
Lots of everything you want in a Central Otago pinot - oodles of fruit, dark cherries, spicy oak, suggestions of dark chocolate and mineral, and a firm understructure. Simple and mouthfilling.
BEST VALUE
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
A powerful wine from an Alexandra vineyard, this is fragrant, rich and mouthfilling, with dark cherry-plum fruit, lots of spicy oak, a savoury hint and a silky texture, but it's all integrated and balanced, with a long after-taste.
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
An elegant wine, fragrant and velvety with attractive, soft fruit well integrated with smoky,spicy oak, it's harmonious, velvety and mouthfilling with a long after-taste.
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Below average value
Fragrant and polished, with hints of cherry-plum balanced by spicy oak, this new label from Steve Davies, has a lively acidity, a firm structure and long finish.
It's youthful and has all the intensity and structure to develop with more bottle age.
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
This wine from Parkburn on the Wanaka Rd with a small proportion of Gibbston fruit is characteristically charming elegant and harmonious with lovely dark fruit characters, lots of spicy oak, firm tannins, and a long finish.
Four stars (out of five)
Below average value
An elegant wine, fragrant with hints of dried herbs, suggestions of licorice, caramel and dark cherries, a lively edge and great charm, this shows how good Gibbston pinot noir ca be.
ANOTHER GLASS
• Valli Waitaki North Otago Pinot Noir 2009, $55
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Below average value
Fragrant and hinting of cherry-plum, rhubarb and ginger supported by spicy oak, this is silky-textured, a lighter style of pinot but with an attractive savoury and mineral undertone and lively edge.
• Valli Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009, $55
Four stars (out of five)
Below average value
Typically Bannockburn dark cherry fruit with spicy oak and hints of dark chocolate, this is elegant, textural and well balanced with a crisp, mouthfilling finish.
It's youthful and will develop with a few months bottle age.
• Doctor's Flat Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008, $39
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
This first vintage from Steve Davies' organic vineyard in the Bannockburn township, is integrated and drinking charmingly now, with spicy oak, red fruits and a rich, long finish.
• Tohu Marlborough Rore Reserve Pinot Noir 2010, $39
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Average value
Soft, velvety and nicely integrated with a hint of mint among the red fruit, this is textural with a lively, long finish.
• Craggy Range Te Muna Rd Martinborough Pinot Noir 2010, $43
Four stars (out of five)
Average value
Hints of licorice, cinnamon and lovely dark fruit with a savoury undertone, silky texture, lively acidity and long, elegant, mouthfilling finish. A bigger wine that manages to remain graceful and elegant.
- Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tastingand evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.
