Freshness was a recurring theme, openness and readiness to be enjoyed another. There is a stat (whether true or not) that 99.9% of wine is opened within 48 hours of purchase: this group would certainly lend weight to the wisdom of that adage.
2024 Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Bright, expressive
nose, nutty
elements, perfume,
nashi pear. Ripe/
sweet fruit in the
mouth, nice
mouthfeel and
balance, a backbone
of acidity providing
freshness and
counterpoint to the
ripe fruit. Flows to a
nicely just off-dry
close as nuttiness
returns. A wee funky
touch creeps in
adding complexity to
nose and palate.
Wonderful texture,
serious wine and oh-
so-drinkable.
2024 Astrolabe Province Marlborough Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent
Florality bounds out
of the glass, with
pear and a touch of
gravelly minerality.
Really fresh, almost
tangy, brightness
and lift that hits the
refreshment
buttons. Plays the
pear card very
nicely with red
apple, beeswax
nuances and
excellent length.
With air sweeter
fruit pastille joins in
while chewy grip is
evident, really
adding to the
texture.
2023 Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Gris
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Really perfumed,
talcum powder/soap
(in a nice way)
shifting to classic
stone fruits as it
opens. The palate
comes across drier
with chewy grip,
stone fruits again
with savoury hints.
There’s a real zesty/
tangy quality to the
close, which aligned
to the dryness and
palate weight would
make this a cracking
food combo; maybe
creamy pasta?
2024 Main Divide by Pegasus Bay Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent
Hints of cologne,
savoury aspects,
beeswax/comb honey
and pear, real volume.
A touch of sweetness
frames the front
palate, fatness,
richness with a little
touch of intrigue rather
than pristinely clean
which just adds to the
interest. Generosity,
great length and very
enjoyable right now.
With time, nose and
palate show a musky
botrytis touch with
wisps of almond on
the long finish.
2024 Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent
Engaging nose, stone
fruits as one might
expect, spice and
honey. Good texture,
almost creamy yet
there’s juiciness and
vibrancy too, good
flavour intensity with
cashew nut influences
on the long close. Very
much ‘‘together’’,
lovely integration with
nothing out of place,
crying out to be
enjoyed now. With air
perfume grows, the
freshness now ever
more to the fore.
2024 Grove Mill Marlborough Pinot Gris
Rating Very Good to Excellent
The nose needs a little
coaxing but opens out
nicely to notes of
pear, nectarine and
white flowers. The
palate shows a touch
of sweetness, equally
matched by
crunchiness and
juiciness that lead to a
just off-dry finish.
With air, wine gums
on the nose, the fruit
sweetness swells and
the flavours fan out to
fill the mouth. Likely
to be very good value
on promo.
2024 Riverby Estate Marlborough Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent
Again perfumed and
floral, apple melds
with nectarine and
pear. Ripeness/fruit
sweetness leads the
way, musk and wine
gum joined by stone
fruits and apple
before the core of
acidity does its job
bringing real juiciness
and freshness. With
time in the glass this
builds very nicely and
the length increases;
it’s just simply a
rather nice wine in a
very good place.
2024 Penkridge Farm Central Otago Pinot Gris
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Floral, this hints
more at the tropical
spectrum, pineapple
and apple, stone
fruits bubbling up
with time. Great
texture in the mouth,
fruit richness is
there, yet a
riverstones-like
minerality and lovely
chewy grip. Great
length, fresh, zesty,
excellent flavour
depth and structure.
Quite grown up and
serious yet
incredibly drinkable.
Smart wine.
