Forager – Archive

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Forager Waipara Pinot Noir 2012
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 13-Oct-2014

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately deep, dark ruby-red colour, lighter on edge with a little garnet. The bouquet is firm with a dense core of savoury dark red fruits that unfolds in layers of dried herb, bramble and with red floral elements, spice and musk, the aromatics blossoming in volume. Medium-full bodied, this has an elegant and well concentrated core of savoury red berry fruits are complexed by bramble, dried herb and earthy flavours. Distinctive spice and aromatic musk nuances add intriguing detail. The fruit is underlined by fine-grained, subtle tannin extraction and the mouthfeel features bright, racy, slightly elevated acidity that carries the wine to a very long, lingering finish. This is an elegant, finely concentrated and textured, complex, savoury and brambly Pinot Noir with a brisk mouthfeel. Match with mushroom influenced risotto, wild duck and pork dishes over the next 5-6 years. Hand-picked and hand-sorted Pinot Noir fruit, from the ‘Greystone’ vineyard, fully destemmed and returned to a fermentor outside among the vines, the fruit undergoing a soak of 12 days and indigenous yeast fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine spending 32 days on skins, aged 15 months in 1 y.o. French oak barriques and bottled without fining, filtration or any additions. 40 dozen made. 18.0+/20 Oct 2014 RRP $65.00
• Forager Waipara Pinot Noir 2013
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2015

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Full, dark, deep black-hued ruby-red colour with slight purple on the edge. The nose is full with softly concentrated aromas of ripe, dark red berry and plum fruits layered with subtle and harmoniously interwoven nuances of dried herbs, earth and minerals, revealing dark red and violet florals with aeration. The deep core unfolds an array of complexing, savoury aromatic detail. Medium-full bodied, plush and vibrantly rich and succulent fruit flavours of ripe dark red berryfruit and plums fill the palate, unfolding waves of subtle dried herb, earth, and nuances of undergrowth, along with red florals and violets. The fruit is supported by fine-grained tannins providing an underlying firm line, and bright, discreet acidity lends energy and vitality. The wine flows seamlessly to a very long, nuanced, lingering finish. This is a beautifully rich and lusciously succulent Pinot Noir with waves of complexing savoury detail. Serve with wild duck and pork, mushroom-influenced dishes and coq au vin over the next 6-8 years. Fruit from the Omihi sub-region, fully destemmed, and indigenous yeast fermented in the ‘Greystone’ vineyard to 13.5% alc., the wine spending 30 days on skins and aged 17 months in 1 y.o. French oak. 45 cases made. 19.5-/20 Jun 2015 RRP $65.00
• Forager North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2017
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 04-Nov-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Moderately dark ruby-red colour with some depth, lighter on the rim with purple hues. The nose is gently full and voluminous with an array of fragrant and savoury dark-red cherry and berry fruits along with an amalgam of dark herbs and dark-red florals and subtle earthy suggestions. The aromatics form an elegant, taut core with intensity and penetration, showing finesse. Medium-full bodied, the palate is elegantly proportioned with a heart of sweet and lush dark-red cherry and berry fruit, the flavours a little restrained in expression. The wine flows smoothly with supple, fine-grained tannin extraction in support. The acidity is soft, but lends cut and poise. The flavours grow in richness, unfolding savoury herb and earthy detail as it carries to a lingering finish. This is an elegant and refined Pinot Noir with subtle sweet and savoury red cherry and berry fruit with complexing herb and earthy detail on a supple, poised palate. Serve with wild duck and pork over the next 5 years. Pinot Noir fruit from the ‘Isolated Hill’ vineyard, Waiau, fully destemmed with no whole cluster, indigenous yeast vineyard fermented to 13.8% alc., the wine spending 26 days on skins and aged 15 months in one-third each 1 y.o., 2 y.o. and 3 y.o, French oak. 220 cases made. 18.5+/20 Nov 2018 RRP $55.00
• Forager Waipara North Canterbury Pinot Noir 2016
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2018

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Light ruby-red colour with some depth, a little paler on the rim. The nose is elegant in proportion with a near-firm and deep core of dark-red cherry and berry fruit, along with subtle red florals, melded with a complexing array of dried and dark herbs and a little earth. The aromatics are very harmoniously interwoven and unfold layers of interest. Medium-bodied, the palate is vibrant and lively with a rich and near-succulent, deep heart of savoury dark-red cherry and berry fruit harmoniously intermingling with red florals, dried herbs, a little earth and hints of lifted whole bunch stalks. The mouthfeel features fruit vitality and energy, and the concentrated core is underlined by good fine-grained tannin structure with balanced acidity. The flavours carry to a very long and sustained finish. This is a considerably rich and concentrated, but vibrant and elegant Pinot Noir with complex flavours of savoury red fruits, florals, herbs and earth. Match with coq au vin and game bird dishes over the next 6 years. Clones 667 and 5 from the Williams’ ‘Blacks Ave’ vineyard, from 20 y.o. vines, the fruit hand-picked and hand-sorted, with destemming, and returned to a fermenter in the sourcing vineyard, indigenous yeast fermented with 25% whole bunches to 13.0% alc., the wine spending 28 days on skins and 16 months in seasoned French oak. 44 cases made. 19.0/20 Jun 2018 RRP $55.00
• Forager Pinot Noir 2017, North Canterbury
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 13-Apr-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, ruby-black with a purple undertone, moderate transparency, slightly lighter on the rim. The nose is soft, underlying delicate sweet fruit, nuances of cherries, plums, vanilla, cinnamon are in the lead, unfolding earth, fire-pit and ash. Medium-full bodied, aromas of plums, dark cherries are dense, followed by a thread of red berries acidity melded with cinnamon, black pepper, star anise, cloves, underlined earth and savoury element. The palate is weighty with spices and a concentration of densely kitted tannins, delicate lifting fragrance followed, persist a lasting finish, lingering with silky tannin and subtle earth details. This is a shy, Pinot Noir with inner beauty, concentration and power waiting to be unveiled, serve decanted. Match with wild boar and duck over the next 8+ years. Fruit from the Isolated Hill vineyard, Waiau. Handpicked, fully destemmed, fermented outdoor in the vineyard in an open-top fermenter, indigenous vineyard yeast and ambient temperatures. 13.8% alc. Aged 15 months in one-third each 1 y.o., 2 y.o. and 3 y.o, French oak. 2875 bottle made. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Apr 2021 RRP $55
• Forager Pinot Noir 2020, North Canterbury
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 15-Jun-2022

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, crimson, lighter on edge. The nose is intense and full, packed with blackberries, cherries, floral and bark fragrances alongside dark herbs and spice. Medium-full bodied, herbaceous aromas of thyme and pine lead the palate with black pepper and cardamon, unfolding cherries, blackberries and rich floral fragrance. The fruit shows a sense of purity, calmly supportive in the background with integrated acidity. Powdery tannin extraction coated the mouthfeel with a light grip and silky veil. This savoury Pinot Noir features fruit's purity and natural tannin structure without makeup, reflecting a sense of place and growing season. Match with truffle risotto and roasted pigeon over the next 8+ years. Fruit from Isolated Hill Vineyard, fermented outdoor amongst the vines to 14% alc, 26 days on skins, then brought into winery and pressed to French oak barrels and aged 14 months, 8% new oak. Unfined, unfiltered. 19/20 pts (95 pts) June 2022 RRP $55
• Forager Pinot Noir 2022, North Canterbury
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 09-Apr-2024

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, lightly hazy (unfiltered), crimson, even colour throughout. The nose is lifted with aromas of raspberry, cherry, cranberry, hibiscus and subtle herbs. Medium-light bodied, aromas of raspberry, red cherry and cranberry entwined with hibiscus, dark herbs and tea fragrance, closing with black pepper dusting. The fresh acidity carries chalky minerals through the palate, along with supple, fine tannins. This Pinot Noir has a delicate, natural expression, reflecting the season and vineyard. Match with duck and pork over the next 5+ years. Fruit from Isolated Hill Vineyard, fermented outdoors amongst the vines to 13.5% alc, then brought into the winery and pressed to French oak barrels and aged 15 months. Unfined, unfiltered. 18/20 pts (90 pts) Apr 2024 RRP $55