This tasting includes four single vineyard wines from Grant
Taylor's Valli label. With more than 20 vintages in Central
Otago, he knows each sub-region well and his wines reveal
their origins if you taste carefully.
A couple of pinots from Waitaki revealed more
complexity than in previous years, showing the benefit of
vine age as the North Otago vineyards gain maturity.
BEST VALUE
Rocky Point Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011
$20
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
A young wine that takes a few minutes to reveal its
concentrated cherry fruit, savoury undertones, hints of dried
herbs, and its dry dusty finish. It's rare to find a wine of
this quality at this price.
www.finewinedelivery.co.nz
Saint Clair Marlborough pinot noir 2011
$26.50
Three stars
Average value
A simple wine with attractive spicy fruit suggesting plums
and a hint of charred oak. Easy and drinkable with a crisp
finish.
www.saintclair.co.nz
Waipara Hills Central Otago Pinot Noir
2010
$30
Four stars
Good value
An attractive wine from a Bendigo vineyard, with lots of
spicy, ripe red and dark fruit supported by toasty oak, but
with a underlying hint of savoury dried herb and mineral
and a long, soft, textural finish.
www.waiparahills.co.nz
Pasquale Waitaki Pinot Noir 2010
$49
Four stars
Average value
Bright red fruit with darker, savoury undertones, even
beginning to suggest hints forest floor, supported by lots of
toasty, spicy oak, a silky texture and fine, dusty
tannins on the long finish.
As the vines get older the Waitaki wines are showing more
complexity, and will reward bottle
age.
www.pasquale.co.nz
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
$65
Four stars
Below average value
Perfumed and concentrated, oozing fruit, with hints of
dried herbs, spice and licorice, toasty oak and a lively,
long aftertaste. A young wine, it takes time to open in the
glass and will reward a few years bottle age. This is Grant
Taylor's this 20th vintage in Otago - he grew up in the
Waitaki at Kurow.
www.valliwine.com
Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot 2010
$65
Four and a half stars
Average value
The Bendigo Vineyard pinot is a new addition to Grant
Taylor's impressive collection of terroir-driven Otago wines.
Seductive, with lovely silky red fruits, hints of mineral,
dark chocolate and underlying savoury notes, supported by
spicy oak, this is a lively, beautifully balanced wine, its
power and concentration disguised by its charm.
www.valliwine.com
ANOTHER GLASS
Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
$65
Four stars
Below average value
Typical of Bannockburn with lots of dark cherry, hints of
greywacke, spicy, toasty oak and a lively, tingly finish with
fine, dusty tannins and a long aftertaste, this wine is young
and already delicious but will repay a couple of years bottle
age.
www.valliwine.com
Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
$65
Four stars
Below average value
Of all Grant Taylor's impressive single-vineyard sub-regional
Otago pinots, I always think the Gibbston has the most charm
and individuality. This hints of spiced beetroot and dark
cherries, with a hint of wild thyme, new leather, mineral and
dark chocolate, with an elegance and lively, lingering
finish. A lovely wine that will show its true potential with
a a few years more bottle age.
www.valliwine.com
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