Pinotphiles gather at large events such as the Central Otago Pinot Noir celebration to be held late next January (registrations open soon on www.pinotcelebration.co.nz), and with small groups of friends to taste and compare their pinots from different vineyards, regions, makers or countries.
Some producers bring out single-vineyard or single-block wines which pinotphiles snap up.
A few weeks ago I wrote about new single-block wines from Rippon.
This time it is a new vintage of Escarpment's Insight series from Martinborough.
Winemaker Larry McKenna believes such wines help explain the "terroir" argument, that different soils and exposures can give rise to particular characters in wine.
It is something that shows particularly in pinot noir and riesling when due care and attention is paid to the viticulture and winemaking.
McKenna, who has been making exceptional pinot noir in the area for more than 20 years, produces subtly different wines from four different sites as well as a regional blend.
The concentrated, savoury Kiwa, the charming Pahi, dark cherry and spice Te Rehua ($65 each), are from some of the oldest vineyards around Martinborough village, and the complex, minerally Kupe ($85) is from the Escarpment's own closely-planted Te Muna Rd vineyard.
The single-vineyard insight series was first made in 2006, but winemaker Larry McKenna felt with a short season in 2007 the vineyards did not perform at their best so none was made.
