Top 6 Pinot Noir (Over $50)

05-Dec-2020

Untitled design (8) - Raymond Chan Wine Reviews

We often think of New Zealand as a young wine country, yes, it's true, but at the same time, New Zealand winemakers have become more experienced, the vines are getting older with more depth of flavours. They are incredibility value for money if you are a serious wine lover, know what you pay for these wines for the same value to what you will get from Burgundy, Oregon or Australia, you'd be a fool not to invest in them.

Rockburn The Art Pinot Noir 2019, a recent release, fruit from Dunstan Foothills. Used 21% whole bunch and matured in old for 14 months with 56% new oak, the wine has immaculate balance, pristine fruit with ethereal velvety tannins and lacy acidity all integrated harmoniously. All good wine should taste great when they are young! This is a prime example. It will mature graciously and develop more tertiary aromas. Wild Earth Reserve Earth and Sky Pinot Noir 2019 is another testimonial of vintage 2019 Pinot Noir, delicate and elegant with supple tannin structure and a long finish.

What a treat was Pegasus Bay Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2016? A powerful and complex wine shows some really attractive developments. I admire them for releasing 2016 as their current release. The age development on that wine is totally worth it! So does Coxs' Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir 2016 and Ostler Caroline's Pinot Noir 2016 from Waitaki. Both show a sense of place, layers of savoury, earthy developments and fineness.

Pisa Range Soli Vero Pinot Noir 2018 is an extremely sexy wine, I don't use 'sexy' in my description a lot because we all have a different standard, but this wine is so alluring, the earthy minerals, dried herbs and silky palate, makes you want to keep going back.

Hope you enjoy my Top 6 Pinot Noir (Over $50)!

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Rockburn The Art Pinot Noir 2019, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Central Otago & Waitaki
Review Date : 11-Nov-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Dark, ruby-red with a purple hue and some depth, lighter on edge. The nose is softly-full, with good depth and intensity of cherries, blackberries, along with fresh thyme and black liquorice, follow by dusty cinnamon and black pepper. The aromas are well in proportioned and in harmony, subtle savoury detail unfolds as it aerated. Medium-bodied, the palate is opulent, aromas of cherries, blackberries and a hint of black Doris plums have an elegant core, unveiling fresh thyme, black pepper and an amalgam of oak spices, followed by violet fragrances. The palate has an ethereal velvety fine-grained tannin extraction, linger with spices and a refined grip. Well-integrated lacy acidity carries the wine with good energy to silky linearity. This is an age-worthy Pinot Noir with immediate appeal, multilayers and harmonious flavours with clarity and intensity. Match with tea-smoked duck and sugar-cured venison over the next 6-8 years. Pinot Noir clones 667, 777 and 5 from the Dunstan Foothills. 21% whole bunch, fermented to 14% alc, aged in French oak barrels for 14 months, 56% new oak. 19.5/20 pts (98 pts) Nov 2020 RRP $96
Pegasus Bay Reserve Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2016, Waipara
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Canterbury & Waipara
Review Date : 03-Jul-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Dark, medium ruby-red with a black hue, slightly lighter on edge. The nose is gently powerful with lightly cooked red plums and cherries, dark herbs, entwined with earth and gamey development, along with savoury element, and warm oak spices. Medium-bodied, the palate is full of energy with flavours of lightly cooked red plums and cherries, dark herbs; unfolding earthy mushroom, sweet liquorice roots. Along with gamey, earth element; accompanied by savoury and warming oak spices linger to a long and sustained finish. The flavours are with depth and concentration. The fruit nuances of red plums and cherries, lightly cook, still has its crunch with a softened edge. The acid is full of energy but un-intrusive, showing the wine with support and length, along with the alcohol power. The tannin is powdery and fine-grained, providing soft grip with structure, contributed the age-worthiness of this wine, carries some warm oak spices with an elegant presence. Flavours are integrated with harmony, complex and powerful yet gentle and elegant in presence with its development. A Prima Donna that's worthy of your attention. Match with venison and lamb grill over the next 8-10 years. Only made in exceptional years, best barrels selection. Approx 1/3 whole bunch, fermented in vats to 14% alc. Aged in French oak barriques for 18 months, 45% new oak. 19.5/20 pts July 2020 RRP $100
Coxs’ Vineyard Gibbston Pinot Noir 2016, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Northland & Auckland
Review Date : 05-Jun-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light ruby-red with depth, lighter on edge. The bouquet is mellow, and poise with fragrant of red florals, cherries, plums entwined with savoury mushrooms and a layer of an earthy undertone. Medium-bodied, the palate is soft and graceful with a concentrated core of cherries and plums melded with red florals scent, developments of savoury and earthy elements enriched the complexity. The fruit is guided by a sour cherry toned acid, flows with good energy; silken fine-grained tannin provides a well-structured frame, leads to focus linearity. This is an alluring, gracefully developed Gibbston Pinot Noir with charming fruit, delicate florals and savoury elements, framed by silky fine-grained tannin. Serve with duck and quail over the next 5 years. A mix of clone UCD5, UCD6, 115. 28% whole bunch, fermented to 13% alc. Aged 11 months in French oak, 28% new. 867 bottles produced. 19.5/20pts June 2020 RRP$90
Pisa Range Estate Soli Vero Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 10-Sep-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Deep, ruby-red with some transparency, slightly lighter on the rim with a deep purple hue. The bouquet is full and deep with savoury fruit of black cherries, black plums and berries, entwined with thyme herbs, unfolding baking spices and earthy mineral elements. Medium-full bodied, the palate is full with rich flavours of savoury black cherries and plums, enriched by broody dark thyme, earthy minerals and subtle spices. The mouthfeel is opulent, supported by smooth, silky tannin extraction, flow with integrated lacy acidity along an earthy mineral drive. The fruit has richness and concentration, sweet-scented with savoury balance underlying alcohol power lends a long sustained finish. This is an opulent Pinot Noir with flavours of sweet and savoury balanced fruit, along with thyme and spices nuances underlined silky tannin and earthy mineral details. Match with slow-cooked lamb shoulder and tea-smoked duck over the next 8-10 years. 100% Pinot Noir from Bendigo, fermented to 14% alc. Biogro organic certified. Aged in French oak barriques for 9 months, 20% new oak. 19/20 pts Sept 2020 RRP $56
Wild Earth Reserve Earth and Sky Pinot Noir 2019, Central Otago
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 28-Jul-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, even, medium ruby-red with a black tinge. The nose is gently soft with aromas of sweet plums, black cherries, interweaved thyme and dill; along with a dusting of oak spices. The palate is elegantly soft, medium-bodied. Racy acidity provides freshness and balance to dark shaded plums and cherries; melded with dark herbs and fragrance oak spices, flows to a long and fine finish. Supple tannin extraction of fine-grained oak and whole-bunches, silky and dusty with a good grip, extended the palate to a broader dimension. There are some liquorice and savoury detail as it aerated, unfolding subtle interest. This is an elegantly soft Pinot Noir with flavours of dark cherries and plums, thyme and delicate spice detail on a supple, silky tannin structure line. Match with quail and duck over the next 5-8 years. Best grape selections from three vineyards in Bannockburn. Around 15% whole-bunch. Aged 12 months in French oak, 22% new, the rest are 2-5-year-old barriques. 13% alc. Unfined, unfiltered. 19/20 pts July 2020 RRP $65
Ostler Caroline’s Pinot Noir 2016, Waitaki Valley
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Otago
Review Date : 26-Aug-2020
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light ruby-red with a garnet hue, even throughout. The nose is gently full, attractive fragrances of florals, herbs melded with cranberries, cherries and a very fine undertone of earthy minerals and a light dusting of spices. Medium-bodied, the wine has the purity of fruit and well-defined layer flavours of vibrant cranberries and red cherries, along with blossoms and fresh herbs; layered with delicate black pepper spices and underlying earth and mineral nuances. The wine has good tension, shows vitality and youth, full of delicate interests. The palate is light and bright with a silky, chalky tannin line, and lacy acidity lends a long lingering finish, immensely pleasurable. This is an elegant Pinot Noir with flavours of red fruit, good acid tension and delicate interests on a silky-fine palate. Match with roasted quail and crispy skin duck over the next 6-8 years. 19/20 pts Aug 2020 RRP $65

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Featured Reviews

STAY UP TO DATE

thecandicewinechat