Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 $55-$60 Ghost Town is one of Mt D’s Single Vineyard series, showcasing fruit sourced from a vineyard the Dicey family planted back in 2002. It’s located on Chinaman’s Terrace in Central Otago’s Bendigo sub-region, and after six years of quiet, sleepy time in the bottle it’s … Read More
Pinot Noir
Mora Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Mora Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $50 Mora Wines is the latest wine venture for the Skeggs Group, which also produces the RUA brand – and the name ‘Mora’ means to linger or to take pause in Latin (which is a nice thought when you’re stopping to sip something lovely) Crafted from fruit grown in … Read More
Main Divide Te Hau Reserve North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2021
Main Divide Te Hau Reserve North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2021 $30 Named after Henry Te Hau Tapu Nui o Tu Donaldson, grandfather of the current Donaldson family, pioneers of North Canterbury winegrowing and makers of Pegasus Bay and Main Divide, this pinot is smooth, soothing, saturated with earthy spices, cherry, redcurrant and black tea notes … Read More
Two Rivers Brookby Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020
Two Rivers Brookby Hill Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020 $55 Organically grown in the deep clay soils of the Southern Valleys, this pinot was wild-fermented (up to 25% whole bunch) then aged for between 12 and 18 months in French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered (hence the slight cloudiness) and given a further year … Read More
Carrick Central Otago Arthur’s Vineyard Organic Pinot Noir 2021
Carrick Central Otago Arthur’s Vineyard Organic Pinot Noir 2021 $80 This single-block, single clone wine is named for the couple who established this Bannockburn vineyard, Sue and Bill Arthur “The 2021 Arthur’s is the inaugural release of this wine, having always stood out as a unique and interesting portion of the Bannockburn Estate blend, we … Read More
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 It’s been a long time between Orchard Block pinots with the last one being back in 2017! The western boundary of this, (the most sheltered part of the vineyard), is an orchard of cider apple trees and the handpicked fruit is fermented in a small … Read More
Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013 & 2019
It was a real treat to taste a mini-vertical of a pinot noir that I’ve been a fan of for many years. Phil Handford from Grasshopper Rock sent me a bottle each of his 2013 and 2019 for comparison (and fun) and it was super interesting seeing how an extra six years vine age, tiny … Read More
Carrick Arthur’s Vineyard Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021
Carrick Arthur’s Vineyard Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $65 Grown across the road from the Carrick winery, the 10/5 clone, own-rooted vines responsible for this new addition to Carrick’s stable, are 25 years old and really starting to hit their straps. Handpicked, wild-fermented and left on skins for almost 4 weeks before spending 9 … Read More
Riverby Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021
Riverby Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021 $28 Grown on land transformed by the redirection of Marlborough’s Opawa River back in the 1930s, this pinot noir erupts with bright redcurrant, raspberry and rhubarb aromas which just instantly make you grin. The palate is slippery, soothing and juicy and unveils a core of lightly charred oak, soft … Read More
Doctors Flat Single Vineyard Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Doctors Flat Single Vineyard Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $52-$58 Anyone who loves great pinot noir should phone their nearest wine shop now to ask if they have this wine in stock. If they do, hoon down there immediately and celebrate that you’ve carpe’d that diem. If they don’t, wail loudly over the phone … Read More