Porters Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2017 $45 Winemaker and ferociously competitive lawyer John Porter, has managed to cram a shed tonne of spice-soaked fruit into his wine, and that puts me firmly in my happy place pinot-wise. He doesn’t accept average and neither do you I suspect. Deceptively pale in colour (pinot noir doesn’t need … Read More
Pinot Noir
Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
Kererū by Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $35 Proprietor John Porter is a hands-on winegrower and winemaker when he’s not at his legal firm in Wellington. He and his wife planted 6.4ha of vines in 1992 and designed their ‘Kererū’ label to accelerate awareness of their native bush restoration initiative. Kererū is the Māori name … Read More
Bald Hills Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Bald Hills Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $45.99 Five years on from vintage, and this Central Otago star is finally confident enough to start putting its head above the fence to yell, ‘Yoo-hoo, boys!’ With seductive spices on the nose, wild rhubarb and tamarillo notes on the palate, and a warming, savoury, sandy … Read More
McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $39 Gold Medal – Decanter World Wine Awards Gold Medal & Trophy Winner at International Wine Challenge 2022 Gold Medal & Champion Pinot Noir Trophy NZ International Wine Show If you’re looking for a Central Otago pinot noir with both depth, intensity and also playful perkiness … Read More
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Carrick The Magnetic Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $65 ‘The Magnetic’ was a floating gold dredge which operated in the Kawarau River back in the mid-1800s in the height of the regions’ gold rush period – it’s picture is on the back label. Crafted by winemaker Rosie Menzies, from a tiny block of Abel … Read More
Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020
Butterworth Estate Layline Martinborough Pinot Noir 2020 $35 Masses of fresh cherry, cocoa powder and tamarillo aromas greet the nose and the palate is soaked in classic su bois (forest floor), savoury sensations. Fresh acidity and racy tannins elongate the spicy layers which give this wine real finesse and character. Very nicely made, beautiful drinking … Read More
Māori Point Barrel Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosè 2021
Māori Point Barrel Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosè 2021 $39 If you’re looking for a bright, fruity, lightly-styled rosé then pull over, indicate right and do a u-turn because this complex, multi-textural, slightly smoky rosé will take you in a different direction entirely. Winemaker Matt Evans has fashioned this from 100% hand-harvested Pinot Noir grapes … Read More
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $49 Paired with: Slow Baked Mushrooms by Annabel Langbein in Canvas Magazine NZ Herald July 16 2022 I’ll be honest. There are some weeks when I’m literally just a slow-baked mushroom away from performing seppuku on myself over the state of things. Yet what soothes my … Read More
99 Rows Te Muna Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018
99 Rows Te Muna Road Martinborough Pinot Noir 2018 $28 Grown high up on the Te Muna Terraces, the pinot noir that comes from Julicher Estate has its own personality and huge florality (definitely a word). Gentle tannins are the cushion for its bright cherry, damson plum, raspberry, and redcurrant razziness (another good word). Plus … Read More
Two Rivers Tributary Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
Two Rivers Tributary Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 $30 From a tiny but mighty crop sourced from their Brookby Hill vineyard in Marlborough’s southern valleys, this handharvested, wild-fermented (30% whole bunch) pinot was aged in 4500l French oak cuves for 11 months befoe being bottled unfined and unfiltered. In addition to a classic cherry-drenching, this pinot … Read More