Pinot noir may be "a minx of a vine" as British wine writer Jancis Robinson says, but it's enormously popular, even though it's not cheap. However it goes well with food, is oftencharming and fascinates those who get hooked on the pinot "bug."
Although wine sent for review is tasted blind to eliminate preconceptions, all wine tastingand evaluation is subjective.
These are personal recommendations.
(Two stars - simple, clean, enjoyable wine; three stars - good wine with varietalcharacteristics; 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.)
Forrest Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009 (around $25)
- Three stars + (out of five)
- Good value
A charming wine, with hints of red fruits and spice, mellowed and textural with a crisp finishand fine grained tannins.
- Four stars
- Below average value
Red and dark fruits with a savoury undertone suggesting black olives and licorice, a lovelysilky texture, supple tannins and a crisp, lively finish.
- Three stars
- Below average value
Hints of cherry and attractive dark fruit with a lively edge supported by spicy oak, a savouryhint of licorice and a fresh, bright finish.
- Four stars
- Below average value
Fragrant with violets, red fruits, dark chocolate and spice, a hint of forest floor and savouryundertones, a velvety texture and long, balanced, harmonious finish.
It will continue to mellowover several more years.
- Four and a half stars
- Below average value
Made from 30 year-old vines, this is perfumed and elegant, restrained and stylish, with ayouthful tension , sweet red fruits, savoury undertones, layers of flavour and texture, and a firmfinish.
Will develop well over several years. A classic.
- Four stars
- Below average value
Perfumed with hints of dark and red cherries, spice and coffee, this is a fresh, lively wine withnicely integrated layers of flavour and texture, dusty tannins and a crisp finish.
Seresin's top pinot.
Another Glass
Forrest The Valleys Brancott Pinot Noir 2007 (around $40)
- Three and a half stars
- Below average value
At four years old this is nicely mellowed with savoury layers of forest floor and pipe tobaccomingling with the dark fruits.
It's textural with a fresh juicy finish.
Nautilus Marlborough Pinot Noir 2009 (around $39)
- Three and a half stars
- Below average value
A lighter, elegant style of pinot, with peppery fruit and a hint of charred oak, but with a silkytexture and stylishly mellowed.
Spy Envoy Outpost Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008 (around $56)
- Four stars
- Below average value
This and the following wine from Spy Valley's Envoy series come from specific blocks in theirWaihopai Valley vineyard.
The Outpost is from steep, west-facing slopes and hints of smoky spice, coffee, citrus and dark fruits supported by lots of oak, but it is nicely balanced, charming andcomplex, with a lively finish.
Envoy Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008 (around $56)
- Four stars
- Below average value
From the oldest vines on clay soils, this is fragrant, with red fruits, plum and spice, richflavours and a lively, exciting edge with dusty tannins.
Both the Envoy pinots will continue todevelop for a few more years.
