There's a lot of pinot noir produced in New Zealand and most of it is highly priced, so it's a thrill to find Te Kairanga's new release so delicious and affordable.
BEST VALUE
$21
A textural wine with red fruits, underlying savoury notes, a hint of toasty oak and a silky charm make this new release an attractive wine. Excellent value.
four stars (out of five)
good value
www.tekairanga.co.nz
$33
A hint of pepper and exotic spices, plums and herbs, with concentrated red fruit and a crisp lift on the finish. More bottle age will soften this wine.
three stars (out of five)
below average value
www.stoneleigh.co.nz
$33
Stylish aromas with Saint Clair's characteristic toasty oak, dark spicy fruit and savoury undertones with hints of dark chocolate and an attractive balance.
three stars (out of five)
below average value
www.saintclair.co.nz
$44
Fragrant and spicy with red fruit and an underlying savoury, earthy flavour supported by oak and a crisp finish.
three stars (out of five)
below average value
www.churtonwines.co.nz
$75
Complex, harmonious and silky with red fruits and spice, underlying savoury, nutty flavours, deep and persistent, but with a lifted, tingly finish. The first release of this super-premium wine is one of the finer Marlborough pinots.
four stars (out of five)
below average value
www.churtonwines.co.nz
$50
Always a classy wine, this vintage hints of roasted coffee, toasty, spicy oak and and savoury red fruits, this is textural and concentrated but also harmonious.
four stars (out of five)
below average value
www.cloudybay.co.nz
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
Two stars - simple, clean, enjoyable wine; three stars - good wine with varietal characteristics; four stars - very good wine with some outstanding characteristics; five stars - outstanding wine with balance and harmony that leaves you with a sense of wonder.
