Wine reviews: Pinot noir

Some of the 2012 pinot noirs are being released now but to get best value, especially from the more expensive, age-worthy ones, it's worth cellaring them for another year or so to allow them to mellow and integrate to develop their potential.

BEST VALUE

Two Paddocks Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012

$45

4 stars 

Great value

Lovely dark and red fruit with spicy undertones, hints of forest floor and chocolate, this is powerful and complex but with a fresh, lively, bright overtone. This is from the Alexandra vineyards.
twopaddocks.com

Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tasting and evaluation is subjective. These are personal recommendations.charmian.smith@odt.co.nz

 

 

Balancing Act Resveratrol Enhanced Central Otago Pinot Noir 2013

$22

3 stars

Good value

Sweet fruit suggesting raspberry and strawberry jam, with a hint of mineral and a long, slightly hard finish. This has added resveratrol, a component of red grapes that some claim has health benefits.

southernwines.co.nz

 

 

Tinpot Hut Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

$25

3 stars

Good value 

A fresh, youthful wine with hints of red fruit, herbs and spicy oak on the finish.

tinpothut.co.nz

 

 

 

Surveyor Thomson Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011

$45

4 stars

Good value 

Initially this wine appears light with hints of raspberries and strawberries, but when I went back to it 20 minutes later, it had developed a spicy intensity with sweet fruit, charm, and a full, textural finish.

surveyorthomson.co.nz

 

 

Giesen Waihopai Single Vineyard Selection Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

$63

4 stars

Good value 

A perfumed wine, with suggestions of dark berries and mushrooms, lots of toasty, spicy oak, mellowed and silky yet intense, complex, charming and harmonious.

giesen.co.nz

 

 

Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir 2012

$70

4 stars

Good value

One of New Zealand's most acclaimed pinot noirs, this is complex, bright, and elegant with a lively charm, red fruits, hints of pepper and spice, a silky texture, and a firm backbone and finish. This will develop for 8-10 years.

atarangi.co.nz

 

 

ANOTHER GLASS

Giesen Ridge Block Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012

$63

Four stars

Below average value

A big wine, dark, youthful, concentrated, oozing blackberries, cherries and other dark fruit, with a spicy, savoury undertone, a firm backbone, and fine-grained tannins. This will develop with bottle age.

giesen.co.nz


Domaine Rewa Central Otago Pinot Noir 2012

$39

Three and a half stars

Average value

There's a lot of spicy oak here almost overwhelming the sweet fruit at this stage, but the wine has a silky texture and is well structured with a good finish. Give it some months bottle age to integrate.

domainerewa.com

 

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