Readers may note that I recently slipped an interloper (quelle horreur!) into a line-up of pinot noirs with the addition of a gamay. Well ... I’ve done it again. This time I’ve added a rare kiwi tempranillo to a group of pinot noirs from Marlborough and Martinborough: with the Spanish native tempranillo only being produced by a handful of wineries. It proved to be quite a thrilling selection, so if you are looking for a wee change from Central Otago pinots, there are some lovely offerings here. 2021 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $28 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Savoury notes to the fore, smoky bacon, spices, florality follows, berryfruits and cherry. Tangy tartness at first with cranberry and tamarillo, adding lead pencil and earthy tones. Brooding, firm palate initially, becoming nicely creamy as it opens up. Youthful, bold chewy grip on the close adding a black tea/dried flowers note. Lots going on, full of flavour. www.riverbyestate.com 2021 Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Pinot Noir Price RRP $29 Rating Excellent A sense of richness and volume, darker fruits, fleeting barnyard notes, stony mineral, building in fruit intensity. Cherry with a sweet/sour interplay, flecks of herb, raspberry drops, a touch of anise, bold and youthful with chewy tannins coming into play. Fresh, vibrant, bright acidity, becoming more supple with air. Already very enjoyable. Post reveal good VFM. www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz 2019 Martinborough Vineyard Home Block Pinot Noir Price RRP $65 Rating Outstanding Exudes richness, powerful savoury qualities, dark fruits, wisps of funk, florailty gives a slight hint of violets. Intrigue, draws you back. Texturally rich, raw silk, flavours popping, wild herb, spices, fruit, savoury nuances, earth, there’s a vibrancy and energy to this and fine chewy tannins. Complex, beguiling, flavours hang in the mouth, delicious. Drinkability & potential. www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz 2020 Villa Maria Taylors Pass Single Vineyard Marlborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $59.99 Rating Excellent A rather wild and funky element leads, shifting quickly to tea- leaf, crack pepper, flower petal, darker somewhat brooding fruits. Cherry, lovely fruit intensity, a little fruit pith phenolic adding to the texture, then savoury notes, bacon fat, stewed fruits. With time humus and a bittersweet quality, excellent flavour depth and a long, dry close. www.villamariawines.com 2021 Te Kairanga John Martin Martinborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $43 Rating Excellent Bold nose, darker fruits, spices, herbs, old roses becoming more brooding, earth and licorice notes. A fruit pastille quality melding sweet fruits with a tangy influence, roast beetroot with air. Lovely fruit depth, licorice again, tannins rush in, a tingly quality to the acidity. Fleshes out nicely but that bright acidity keeps this lovely and fresh. Lots to enjoy. www.tkwine.co.nz 2021 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo Price RRP $39.99 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Vibrant nose, smoke, blueberry, spices, mixed berries, tobacco, dusty stones. Youthfully bold with a plethora of flavours echoing the nose, adding a herb note akin to lavender on the long finish. Chewy, almost grainy tannins a corset to the wine, the acidity providing a lip- smacking close that gets the juices flowing. Quite delightful, drinkability yet potential. www.trinityhill.com
