The sleek and tension-filled middleweight flavors possess a relatively finely textured mid-palate that contrasts with the mildly rustic and austere finale. This impressively long effort could also use better depth but that is almost certain to develop. A quality Nuits villages.

Ata Rangi’s Masters Pinot Noir received its inaugural release with the 2020 vintage. The vineyard, owned and farmed by Ata Rangi winemaker Helen Masters, lies just four kilometres south of the Martinborough terrace. Here, clay is naturally found throughout the gravelly soil and it helps to retain moisture, and keep temperatures cooler than typical Martinborough terroir. Masters is a kaleidoscopic expression of pinot noir, featuring aromas of mulberry, baking spices, rosewater, and blood orange, and a palate of rich fruit, pomegranate, nutmeg, and pink peppercorn. The influence of clay soils provides Masters with its expansive, signature texture. Masters is fermented with indigenous yeasts and 70% whole bunches. After two to three weeks in tank, the wine is pressed, and malolactic fermentation is completed in oak. Masters is aged in French oak (30% new) for 11 months, before it is blended, and then held for a further eight months before it is bottled.

Ruby red in colour with hints of bring orange at the rim, this wine has an intense aroma of cherry, raspberry, rose, tobacco and truffle. The palate is full bodied and robust with concentrated flavours of dark berries, spice and licorice. The wine is best enoyed with some decanting to allow its flavours to evolve and pair wonderfuly with hearty Italian dishes such as rissotto or aged cheeses

Chambolle wines are above all models of elegance and finesse. Though only medium-coloured, they emanate voluminous aromas of raspberry, crystallised strawberries, violets and forest undergrowth. In body, these wines are marked by fine tannins and their associated unctuousness. Light in acid, the wines are notable for their meatiness, and the 1ers Crus are highly concentrated. On the nose, aromas of cocoa and eucalyptus mingle with small red fruits and redcurrants. On the palate, the concentration doesn’t detract from its finesse, with a tannic structure that is there but very discreet. Above all, it’s the wine’s length on both the nose and palate that characterise this delicate appellation.

SHAFER VINEYARDS One Point Five Cabernet, Napa Valley