FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki

  Review Date : 22-Oct-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, ruby-black colour, moderately full, lighter on the rim. The nose is full; savoury aromas filled the glass, thyme, earth entwined with dark cherries, black raspberries, plums, unfolding sweet spice. Medium-bodied, elegantly presented fruit aromas of cherries, black raspberries and a hint of plums, the fruit have a fresh and fragrant core, melded with dark earth, thyme, black pepper and cinnamon. The mouthfeel is velvety with fine-grained tannin extraction and a touch of creaminess; spices linger and elevate the finish. The fruit has good concentration and depth of flavour, poised and lifted, very attractive. This is a well-balanced Pinot Noir with ripe fruit, earth and spice details, depth, and weight on a velvety palate. Match with lamb rack and beef fillet over the next 5 years. Handpicked, 0-50% whole bunch, average around 18% whole clusters, fermented to 13.5% alc, time on skins ranging from 18-28 days. Aged in French oak for approx 12 months, 25% new oak, 30% 1-year-old and the balance in 2-5-year-old barriques. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Oct 2021 RRP $42
• Alexia Fleeting Glimpse Pinot Noir 2020, Wairarapa 
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington

  Review Date : 24-Mar-2022

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Medium crimson, youthful appearance, even colour throughout. The bouquet is softly full, poised aromas of Morello cherries, strawberries interweave hibiscus, rose, earth and spice. Medium-bodied, black and red cherries intermixed with ripe strawberries; savoury earth enriched the palate, unfolding star anise, black pepper and floral elements. Supple, dusty tannin coated the palate in silk. Lacy acidity shows liveliness and integration with the wine, buoyant in expression. This is a refined Pinot Noir with effortless youth and natural beauty. Match with lamb shabu-shabu and pulled pork over the next 3-5 years. 30% Abel clone and equal portions of 115, 667 and 5. Fermented with 25% whole bunches to 13.5% alc, aged in barrels for 14 months, 20% new. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Mar 2022 RRP $35
• Nga Waka Lease Block Pinot Noir 2020, Martinborough
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington

  Review Date : 15-Jan-2022

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, ruby-red, slightly lighter edged. The nose is elegantly presented, soft and sweet aroma of strawberries, cherry-plums, melded with spice, vanilla and herb. Medium-full bodied, strawberries and cherry-plums have a sweet core, interweave vanilla, cardamon, cinnamon and rosemary. Fine-grained silky tannin lightly coated the mouthfeel, and lacy acidity provided a fine backbone. This elegant Pinot Noir possesses a sweet fruit core, harmonious oak detail and a poised structure. Match with pigeon and roast pork over the next 5+ years. Fermented with 15% whole bunches to 14% alc, total maceration time 20 days, MLF in thigh-grain French oak barriques, aged for 16 months, 30% new oak. Unfined, unfiltered. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Jan 2022 RRP $45
• Neck Of The Woods Bendigo Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki

  Review Date : 23-Apr-2022

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep purple with a ruby hue, slightly lighter edged. This has a youthful and soft bouquet with vivid aromas of blackberries, cherries, and dark herbs entwined with a hint of floral, liquorice and allspice. Medium-full bodied, purely expressed aromas of blackberries, cherries melded with violet, thyme and black liquorice, unfolding cloves and black pepper. The fruit shows purity and ripeness, growing with depth, and black pepper extended the palate, adorned by violet and stalk elements. Youthful oak details contributed spice and structure and appeared with a dusty mouthfeel supported by lively acidity. This has a velvety line with pure fruit expression, herb and floral elements, spice structure and an elegant finish. Match with duck and hare over the next 6-8 years. 13.5% alc. Fruit sourced from the Van der Mark Vineyard on China Terrace in Bendigo, clones 667, Abel, 828, 5, 943, handpicked, fermented in 3 batches, average 30% whole bunch, 24 days on skins. aged in French oak barriques for 11.5 months, 20% new oak. 18.5+/20 pts (94 pts) Apr 2022 RRP $38
• Escarpment Pinot Noir 2019, Martinborough
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington

  Review Date : 13-Aug-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, ruby-red with moderate transparency, lighter on edge. The nose is full and lifting, multilayered aromas of red cherries, blackberries interweave violets, black peppercorns and a hint of earth. Medium-bodied, bright aromas of red cherries, blackberries are lifted with violets, unfolding black pepper, dark herbs, subtle earth and ash. The acidity is lively, injecting vibrancy to the complexing earth and herbaceous elements. Powdery tannin leaves a light dusting on the palate and lingers to a savoury finish. This is an elegant Pinot Noir with brilliant fruit and acid balance on a silky palate. Match with five-spice roasted duck with plum sauce and hare loin over the next 8+ years. Handpicked, fermented in open-top vat to 13.6% alc, plunged every 12 hours, then left to macerate on skins for an average of 18 days. Aged in French oak barriques for 11 months, 25% new oak. 19-/20 pts (95 pts) Aug 2021 RRP $49
• Hawkshead Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki

  Review Date : 02-Sep-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep ruby-red with a black core, moderate transparency, slightly lighter edged. The nose is softly full, with deep aromas of forest floor, entwined with wild thyme built on cherries, blackberries and mushroom, barrel spices unfold. Medium-full bodied, cherries and blackberries have a bright core, enriched by wild thyme, forest floor and mushroom savouriness, unveiling black pepper and nutmeg spices lend a long finish. The mouthfeel is silky; fine-grained tannin extraction provides a light grip, smooth flowing, lacy acidity harmonised the savoury elements. This is a harmonious Pinot Noir with elegance, strength and savoury features. Match with roasted duck and pork roast over the next 5-7 years. Fruit sourced from Gibbston 40%, Alexandra 60%. Handpicked, fermented with 30% whole bunch to 13% alc, post-ferment maceration for 26 days, aged in French oak barriques for 10 months, 15% new oak. 19-/20 pts (95 pts) Sept 2021 RRP $49.50
• Black Quail Pinot Noir 2019, Central Otago
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki

  Review Date : 06-Apr-2022

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep ruby, youthful, even colour throughout. This has a fragrant and alluring bouquet, gently releasing aromas of black cherries, black raspberries, melded with floral, forest floor and delicate oak spices. Medium-bodied, black raspberries and cherries have a taut and juicy core; savoury elements unfold with a hint of earth, and forest floor, followed by delicate floral, cinnamon and black pepper. The mouthfeel is smooth with supple, dusty tannin extraction and elegantly coated the palate with a silky veil. Lacy acidity provides focus and length, carries the fruit to a long, satisfying finish. This is a youthful, poise-structured Pinot Noir with black fruit with elegance and depth, lacy acidity and a silky, long finish. Match with roasted quail and smoked duck over the next 8+ years. Handpicked, fermented with 30% whole bunch to 13% alc, aged in French oak barrels, 25% new oak. Unfined & unfiltered. 19/20 pts (95 pts) Apr 2022 RRP $49
• Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2017, North Canterbury
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara

  Review Date : 12-Nov-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Bright, clear ruby-red colour, lighter on the rim. The wine has an alluring bouquet, slowly growing with red fruit, cherries, dried cranberries, underlying spice, forest floor, dried herb and delicate flower, along with a hint of smoky minerals. Medium-bodied, sweet fruit of cherries, dried cranberries, hibiscus, unfolding mushroom, forest floor, dried herb, then cinnamon, grounded nutmeg lingers with minerals. The wine is complex and pretty, delicate with underlying power and strength. Integrated lacy acidity seductively gliding along a fine-grained, silky mouthfeel to linearity, enduring sweet fruit and floral. This seductive Pinot Noir with delicate sweet fruit and floral features on a silky mouthfeel with power, charm, and a long, satisfying finish. Only produced in exceptional years, selected from best barrels made from the oldest ungrafted vines in the vineyard. Approx one-third of grapes whole bunch with the balance destemmed on top, cold-soaked in vats for few days, wild fermented to 12.5% alc, post ferment maceration for up to a week. Then aged in French oak barriques for 14 months, 40% new oak approx. 19+/20 pts (96 pts) Nov 2021 RRP $100
• Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019, Central Otago
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki

  Review Date : 19-May-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep ruby-red with moderate transparency, faintly lighter on the rim. The nose is fragrant with subtle power, herbaceous nuances of thyme, liquorice, vine leaves, and stalks interweave a hint of deep floral, black fruit core and spices filled the bouquet. Medium-full bodied, aroma of black cherries, plums, and berries have a concentrated core and a savoury edge, unfolding liquorice, thyme, rose petals, and an amalgam of spice. The mouthfeel is with density, tightly-knitted fine-grained tannin coated the palate with silk and a chewy texture. Balance acidity supports a smooth flow and carries spices across the palate; herbaceous element lingers to a long, refine closing. This is a fragrant Pinot Noir with black fruit and a spice-filled palate, showing power and grace on a fine-textured, silky palate. Match with herb-crusted lamb racks and black truffle risotto over the next 8-10+ years. Fruit was sourced from Chinaman's Terrace, Bendigo, fermented with 58% whole bunch to 14% alc, aged 12 months in French oak barrels, 30% new oak. 19+/20 pts (96 pts) May 2021 RRP $69
• Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2019, Martinborough
  Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington

  Review Date : 13-Aug-2021

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Deep, ruby-red with a tinge of dark purple, lighter on the rim. The nose is full, lifting and alluring, aromas of red cherries, intermix plum, thyme flowers, stalk perfume, along with black pepper, nutmeg. Medium-full bodied, perfect ripeness nuances of cherry, plum enriched by dark herbs and violet fragrance; black pepper, nutmeg unveil with subtle milk chocolate. Savoury herbs and stalk linger with sweet floral to a long, fragranced sustained finish. The wine is harmonious with pure fruit and fragrance intensity; black pepper and nutmeg spices lift and enhance the layers. Silky and creamy tannin draw a long line with lacy acidity, provides vitality and drive. This is a youthful Pinot Noir with immediate appeal, beautifully balanced purity and synergies with long ageing potential. Match with foie gras stuffed pigeon and roasted quail with truffle sauce over the next 10 years. The fifteenth release of Kupe, fruit was sourced from Te Muna Road. Fermented in wooden French cuvees with 70% whole bunch to 13.5% alc, hand plunged and aged in French oak barriques for 18 months, 50% new oak. Unfined, unfiltered. Vegan friendly. BioGro organic certified. 19.5/20 pts (97 pts) Aug 2021 RRP $115