Misha’s Vineyard Cantata Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 $30 The good folk at Misha’s Vineyard have explained that a ‘Cantata’ is taken from the Italian word ‘cantere’, which means ‘to sing’. It’s a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment apparently, and rather more complex than “I Wanna Be Sedated” (which was a great song by … Read More
Pinot Noir
Dunstan Road Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014
Dunstan Road Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $35-$40 From beside the famous ‘Rail Trail’ comes a pinot noir that’s plush and lush and stitched together with spiced cherry and soused plum flavours. Five years on from harvest and the acidity is still holding strong, yet the tannins are soft and dusty and velvety. It’s … Read More
Dunstan Road Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
Dunstan Road Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $36 I get so excited when I see a new pinot noir release from Dunstan Road, because they have a signature freshness and florality and buckets of perky spices. Cherry, redcurrant, cranberry flavours are followed by fresh mushroom and delicately spicy notes make it a total delight to … Read More
Madam Sass Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2019
Dish magazine Summer 2020 Haloumi, zucchini and peach skewers I LOVE how salty and moorish haloumi is, and combined with ripe, sweet peach and fleshy zucchini, there’s really only one wine to do the business and that’s the Madam Sass Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 ($22) Pink diamond in the glass and showing pungent … Read More
Black Estate Home North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017 $45 Mushroom Paté – matched in dish magazine Summer 2020 You don’t have to say mushroom paté twice to get me opening a bottle of the Black Estate Home North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017 ($45). With 75% whole berries in the 100% wild ferment (kickstarted in the … Read More
Rock & Pillar Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017
Rock & Pillar Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $29 Really enjoyed this lush, plush, cherry-driven pinot that’s showing deliciously savoury, forest floor notes on the nose and palate and a really silky-textured finish. Fruit saturated and finely-tuned. I love it! www.southernwines.co.nz
Loopline Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2018
Loopline Vineyard Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2018 $22 (not released, may be in new label) Bright ruby colour, intensely aromatic, clove, alspice, nutmeg, black tea, cocoa and wild cherry, solid acidity, tree bark, slight salinity, earthy edge yet has truckloads of flavour and a deep, dried herb, pepper – loads of good stuff here! It’s perfumed … Read More
Te Mata Estate Alma Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2018
Te Mata Estate Alma Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2018 $60 Ultra-bright and bouncing with broody cherry and mulberry fruit, it’s fresh, vibrant and showing great depth and developing character. The fruit appears ripe and yet shows restraint and the tannins have good cling and I feel they’ll integrate further with the fruit over time. Savoury … Read More
Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2018
Te Mata Estate Hawke’s Bay Pinot Noir 2018 $29 An ultra-fresh pinot noir that pushes fruit and spice out to the edges of the mouth, youthful yet intensely savoury cherry and hedgerow fruit focus, it’s a lovely thing to drink and demonstrates great potential for Hawke’s Bay pinot noir. The tannins have great cling and … Read More
Rock N Pillar Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016
Rock N Pillar Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 $29 Sourced from a single vineyard overlooking the Dunstan Basin, the Rock n Pillar pinot noir is fast becoming one of my favourite things. Perfumed with forest floor, smoked strawberry, tree bark and cherry, it’s a full-yet-elegant style that’ll shiver your timbers and rattle your dags. The … Read More