Time for a double header of Central Otago Pinot Noir with a mix today of established wineries and some of the first releases from a newcomer - Monte Christo from Alexandra/Clyde. My tasting buddy is an avid fan of the Alexandra wineries, having tasted extensively there, but sadly with many being small concerns they are little seen in Dunedin. You really need to go there, and look forward to the annual Alexandra Basin Winegrowers New Release Tasting coming up at Labour Weekend. 2022 Monte Christo Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $70 Rating Very Good to Excellent Florality, wisps of gunflint, a suggestion of savoury qualities, the fruit playing the supporting role, a caramel note later. The palate initially shows its fruit-forward qualities, fruit sweetness, a sense of florality again, a lifted quality, as it fleshes out with air tangy aspects lending to a drier finish. Have a nagging suspicion I’m underscoring this, perhaps a bit shy today? www.montechristowinery.co.nz 2022 Carrick Unravelled Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $32 Rating Very Good to Excellent Dustiness, savoury aspects, woodsmoke, red fruits beginning to pop their heads up, a woodsy/brambly influence later. Quite a youthful palate, chewy tannins make their presence felt with a graphite note framing the close. The elements are here but feel like they are still integrating. With air, the fruit weight and depth reveals itself, adding real tanginess to the finish. www.carrick.co.nz 2022 Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $55 Rating Excellent Lovely, expressive nose, red fruits, cranberry, a little blueberry too, florality growing with air, smoke, vibrant. Mouthfilling, rich, almost creamy, generosity of flavour with savoury nuances beginning to appear. With time it grows in the glass, the delightful mouthfeel enlivened by chewy tannins. It feels effortless, it knows what it is doing. www.burncottage.com 2022 Monte Christo Bannockburn Pinot Noir Price RRP $80 Rating Very Good to Excellent Lovely nose, an amalgam of fruit and fragrance, herb and savoury nuances, no doubting the grape variety, a little funky wildness later. A fascinating interplay on the palate between sweet fruit, pronounced tanginess and savoury/umami notes on a medium-weight frame. Elegant rather than a fruit bomb, retaining that zesty, tangy aspect through to the finish. www.montechristowinery.co.nz 2022 Loop Rd by Quartz Reef Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $33.99 Rating Excellent Savoury/umami notes leap from the glass, earthy undercurrents, red fruits, cherry. Powerfully expressed fruit, juicy and engaging. The earthy and savoury notes meet a touch of herb on the long close, a good lick of acidity keeping this fresh. Lovely balance. With air the boldness eases back, moves to a deeper register, maintaining that lip-smacking quality. www.quartzreef.co.nz 2022 Central by Monte Christo Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $45 Rating Very Good to Excellent Oak spices and perfume start the ball rolling, shifting to rose petal florality, some savoury notes, fruit in support. A medium-weight style, red fruited, a grainy feel to the tannins and a fresh, bittersweet quality. Initially shows its youthful side, but grows nicely with air, adding earth and herb nuances and swelling fruit, the nose becoming quite beguiling. www.montechristowinery.co.nz
