Ward Valley Mt Victoria Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 $29 
I loved the 2016 version of the Mt Victoria Block pinot noir, but this 2018 is a softer, sexier, more sweetly-fruited beast altogether. Grown in the tiny, south-Marlborough sub-region of Ward, famous for its deep clay soils. It’s the clay that injects floral intensity to pinot and also adds a layer of minerality and liquorice-like complexity. Boatloads of strawberry, red cherry and raspberry razziness here – and I think it has crowd-pleaser written all over it. Serve with a slab of Tasty gouda.
