The debate during today’s tasting revolved around the scoring process and whether one should be awarding points on a like for like basis: i.e., an outstanding $30 Pinot Noir when compared to other $30 wines, or scoring compared to all other wines tasted. The latter is my preference, though I’d have to say that the sheer drinkablity of this group kept them on the higher side of things. I came out of the tasting incredibly heartened as these wines are competitively priced (often cheaper on promo than their RRPs) and widely available for the average consumer. They are crafted to be enjoyed young, and while they may not have the utterly thrilling complexity of the very finest examples, they all offered so, so much pleasure and drinkability. I’d be delighted to find any of them on a wine list. 2023 Roaring Meg by Mt Difficulty Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $32.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Bold and attractive nose, red and dark berryfruits, charry oak toast aspects, a top note of herb, hints of florality later. Starts off with a silky entry, great fruit weight and depth of flavour, light, chewy grip adding to the structure. Youthful, juicy, showing more light to medium-weight credentials over time. Nicely done and a lot of bang for your buck. www.mtdifficulty.nz 2024 Domaine Thomson Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $35 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Really interesting nose, a sense of minerality, wisps of humus/forest floor, darker fruits (perhaps boysenberry). refined. Creamy entry, mouthfilling, richly flavoured, nice grip here without dominating, a little stony minerality joining the fruit and great carry. Grows with air as does the complexity. Balance, integration, effortless and quite assured. Smart wine. www.domainethomsonwines.com 2023 Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $26.50 Rating Very Good to Excellent Bright fruits lead, in the blueberry and red fruits spectrum, fresh and quite youthfully expressed. Light to medium-weight palate, there’s zesty freshness rather than being a brooding beast, red fruits, a touch of cooling cranberry, and a little charry backdrop. Chewy grip on the close. Clearly crafted to open and enjoy now. www.rabbitranch.co.nz 2023 McArthur Ridge Brassknocker Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $27.50 Rating Very Good to Excellent A little touch of florals, darker fruits hinting at liqueur fruits/berry compote, a hint of smoke. Lovely generosity of flavour, accentuating those riper fruits, filling the mouth and showing its youthful qualities. With air it settles into its groove nicely, less bold and rich now but all about the great drinkability. On reveal, very good vfm here. www.mcarthurridge.nz 2023 Crimson Peak by Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $36 Rating Excellent The fruit shines out of the glass, blueberry, mixed berryfuits, lead pencil, a wisp of oak spices. Engaging. Lovely fruit purity, depth without heaviness while there’s a sense of fine tautness that just builds structure. Excellent carry. With air a little wild herb top note on the nose, a long spice tinged close, merging appeal and interest with sheer drinkability. www.rockburn.co.nz 2023 Misha’s Vineyard Tempo Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $30 Rating Excellent Powerfully floral and perfumed, lavender, herbs, white flower florals, a little savoury nuance with air. Bright, youthful, juicy, vibrant, the nicely chewy feel to the palate just adds to the whole. With air the nose picks up balsamic/salinity influences, the palate earthy/savoury nuances, so much to draw you back for more here. www.mishasvineyard.com
