The Darling ‘Arnst’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $49 This organic, unfined, unfiltered pinot noir is named after Bart Arnst, one-half of the power-pioneer duo of organic kiwi wine growing, Darling wines. Together with business partner Chris Darling, he’s sourced a parcel of superb Central Otago fruit to create a style bursting with tamarillo, rhubarb, … Read More
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Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $49 This new release from the small, Bannockburn vineyard owned by Rod and Mirani Keillor is garnet-red, scented with soft spices and subtle rhubarb, raspberry and cherry notes and lightly-styled on the palate. If you’re looking for a punch-in-the-face pinot then you’ve come to the wrong cul-de-sac my … Read More
Carrick Pot de Fleur Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019
Carrick Pot de Fleur Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 $28-$36 Paired with Annabel Langbein’s Manti- Turkish dumplings NZ Herald Canvas Sat 30 April 2022 Spicy, sheepy morsels like these just sing out for a succulently funky, ‘natural’ pinot noir, and this Southern example has that in unfined, unfiltered, organic, spades. Winemaker Rosie Menzies has … Read More
Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 $49 Grown on the ultra-prestigious Felton Road (the Paritai Drive of Central Otago vineyard addresses), this tiny winery is named after one of the rarest birds in the world. The wine is pretty rare too, with only a couple of hundred cases made of just one wine each … Read More
The Flying Winemaker Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2019
The Flying Winemaker Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2019 $29 From winemakers Eddie McDougall and Monty Petrie and their team comes a rhubarb-laced, spice-edged, wild strawberry-stacked pinot noir from their small but perfectly formed vineyard on the Gladstone terraces between Carterton and Martinborough. Soothing textures, easy-like-Sunday-morning tannins and a moreish, meaty note on the finish, makes this … Read More
Astrolabe Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018
Astrolabe Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 $25 Astrolabe’s owner and winemaker Simon Waghorn once had the ambition to be a seaweed scientist. I know. Just think, if he’d pursued a life aquatic, we’d never have pinot noir like this. It’s ok, I’ll give you a second to compose yourself. This 2018 vintage shows exotic aromatics, ripe … Read More
Astrolabe Wairau Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016
Astrolabe Wairau Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2016 $22 Six years on from harvest this pinot is moving into the baked berry spectrum, dried tamarillo, redcurrant and rooibos tea on the nose and palate combine with layers of spice and smoked cherry characters on the palate. The tannins are softly chewy and prickle nicely under the … Read More
Astrolabe Wrekin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019
Astrolabe Wrekin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 $65 Aromatically this dark, glossy, pinot noir has a huge lift of red apple and cherry blossom right up front while on the palate it roars with fresh tamarillo, rhubarb and layers of earthy, black tea and soft, savoury meaty notes on the palate. It shows really prominent tannins … Read More
Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Noir 2019
Astrolabe Sleepers Vineyard Kekerengu Coast Pinot Noir 2019 $50 Grown on coastal, limestone-laden soils 50mins drive south of Blenheim, this pinot noir treads softly on the palate yet is underpinned with exotic, savoury spices, baked tamarillo and wild raspberry notes from woah to go. Paired with: Roasted Eggplant with Spiced Lamb and Harissa dish … Read More
Kelly Washington Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
Kelly Washington Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 ($55) Created by winemaker Tamra Kelly, this is a lightly-styled, but full-flavoured and highly floral pinot noir that’s been crafted gently from fruit grown in Central Otago’s Gibbston Valley. Handpicked, partially whole-bunch fermented and matured for 11 months in French oak, it’s a gently-styled, raspberry and redcurrant-laced example … Read More