Felton Road Cornish Point Pinot Noir
Central Otago benchmark, Felton Road, produce some of the new world's greatest Pinot Noir's. The Cornish Point Pinot is a perfect example with its complexity matched with fruit power and what seems like eternal length. While magnificently bright and dominated by rich fruit flavours early, the Cornish Point will develop earth and forest floor flavours and aromas along with a seamless integration of tannin and acid to provide a aged Pinot experience like none other.
La Crema Russian River Pinot Noir
Shaw & Smith Pinot Noir
Red fruit aromas in the red cherry and redcurrant spectrum carry through onto the palate.
Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir
Pegasus Bay have about a dozen different clones of Pinot Noir. With their original plantings, these grow intermingled throughout the various blocks. The vines, many of which are nearly 30 years old and on their own roots, grow on a series of north facing, gradually descending terraces. Traditional Burgundian winemaking methods are used. Bright ruby colour. Its generous aromas and flavours dark cherries, blackberries, raspberries and mulberries, suffused with chocolate mocha and spice. There is an underlying savoury character, suggesting grilled meats and mushrooms with a hint of black olive tapenade. It is seductively light on entry but rapidly expands on the palate to become rich and mouth filling, while retaining elegance and poise. Silky tannins help draw out its lingering aftertaste.
Bouchard Pere & Fils Monthelie
Bouchard Pere and Fils is the largest vineyard owner of grands crus and premiers crus in Burgundy. Great value burgundy!
Felton Road Calvert Pinot Noir
As often happens with Calvert, the nose when young is slightly muted and more direct than exotic; pure and fine aromas, not bold and lush. The palate follows on accordingly, with clarity of fruit, roses and florals. Focussed, concentrated yet pure in the mid-palate, with its hallmark mineral texture, its firm but ultimately juicy on the finish. The vines are growing up and were seeing the puppy-fat turn to muscle.
Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir
Giant Steps Sexton Pinot Noir
This superb Pinot Noir shows what heights can be reached when modestly priced wines are produced in outstanding vintages. Expect a red and dark cherry fragrance with a hint of spice. It's light bodied with earthy flavours of red berries delivered with finesses one of the finest producers of the 'Fronsac' appellation. Predominantly Merlot, there's supreme depth of dark fruit, together with the 'polished' structure so synonymous with the 2012 vintage.
Valli Vineyards Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir
Valli Vineyards Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir
Deep garnet hue with a fascinating array of aromas from mineral and floral to earthy/animal and baking spice/wild thyme. The fruit shines through on the palate with bright cherry, blackberry and mulberry complimented by a rich earthy vein. The savoury characteristics from a cool and exceptionally low cropping vintage are sensational when married with the classic Gibbston silky, fine tannins and electric acidity. VALLI is the personal vocation of pioneering winemaker Grant Taylor. Grants name is synonymous with Otago Pinot Noir. He has been crafting wines there since 1993 when there were only 20 ha planted today there are over 2000. Grant founded VALLI in 1998 with the intention to produce single vineyard Pinot Noirs highlighting the different characteristics of Otagos sub regions. More than 20 years later, VALLI is doing just that, producing single-vineyard pinot noirs from Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Bendigo in Central Otago and the Waitaki Valley in North Otago, as well as a dry Pinot Gris from Gibbston and a Riesling from Waitaki. In 2015, established Otago winemaker Jen Parr joined Grant in the winery where the two aim to create wines with honesty, integrity, and most of all, a sense of place. When you drink a Valli wine, you are enjoying more than just a wine: you are experiencing a place.