Wild South Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014

22 December 2015By Yvonne

Wild South Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $18 ★★★ This super-soft, lightly structured pinot has berries-and-cream characters on the nose alongside a sniff of smoke, sweet cherry and a hint of plum.  If you’re looking for a beginners guide to pinot noir (or even to red wine) then this could be just the thing to swing … Read More

Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013

16 November 2015By Yvonne

Sam Hunt Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $24 ★★★★ Our favourite bard of the black jeans and shaggy hair has collaborated with some bright young things to create a range of his own wines and this is the southernmost example.  Beautifully aromatic, it shows red rose, wild thyme, black cherry, berries and sweet tea up … Read More

Hãhã Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014

20 October 2015By Yvonne

Hãhã Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $19.99 ★★★½ Bright cherry, raspberry and spices waft from the glass and merge with gentle cola and cocoa notes in the mouth.  Youthful and fruity, it’s easy, fresh and silky to drink.  www.hahawine.co.nz

Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014

14 September 2015By Yvonne

Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $45 ★★★★ Way back in the early years of European settlement of Central Otago, hundreds of water races were built to direct water from the mountains down to the prospectors, and this pinot is named after one which still flows through the property.  Unlike its brooding, … Read More

Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014

14 September 2015By Yvonne

Behave Marlborough Pinot Noir 2014 $42 ★★★★ Classic aromas of baked berries, cherries and earthy, musky notes lead the way to a super-soft, almost creamy palate that’s generous and gentle.  There’s a subtle dusting of spice around the edge of some sweet fruit and stretchy tannins.  Nice stuff.  www.odysseywines.co.nz

Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013

14 August 2015By Yvonne

Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013 $39 ★★★★ This’ll probably sound really weird, but I love that this pinot smells like moss-covered tree trunks in the rain, lush and earthy, with a layer of black tea, cherry and baking spices.  Fresh and juicy to drink, with pleasantly drying tannins, this well-crafted pinot has lovely fruit … Read More

Pinot Trail Tales…

14 July 2015By Yvonne

Cloudy Bay’s winemaker Nick Lane is racing around the country hosting the Cloudy Bay Pinot and Duck Trail, a series of events designed to showcase how pinot noir and duck dishes are a match made in heaven. Today he’s at Auckland’s Sapphire Room where three of the best chefs in town are preparing duck-centric dishes … Read More

Selaks Reserve Marlborough/Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014

14 July 2015By Yvonne

Selaks Reserve Marlborough/Central Otago Pinot Noir 2014 $22  ★★★½ Ruby/black in colour and rocking robust aromas of five-spice, black tea, clove and dark plum this dual-region combo works really well.  The palate is sweetly fruited, bright and juicy and extremely easy to drink.  Widely available. www.selaks.co.nz

Gibbston Valley Glenlee Pinot Noir 2014

14 July 2015By Yvonne

Gibbston Valley Glenlee Pinot Noir 2014 $65 ★★★★¼ Sexy sweet fruit smashes its way out of the glass here.  Pretty plum, berry and black cherry flavours merge with soft spices in a rich, generously juicy palate-punch.  Very upfront and confident in its youth, it’ll reward another year or four.  www.gibbstonvalley.com

Gibbston Valley Le Maitre Pinot Noir 2014

14 July 2015By Yvonne

Gibbston Valley Le Maitre Pinot Noir 2014 $85 ★★★★★ This is such a young wine it almost seems like a crime to open it, but I’m a curious puppy and couldn’t help myself.  Glossy magenta in the glass and oozing juicy cherry and plum characters, it’s the dusting of dried herb, tea leaf and truffle … Read More