Possibly the world's best value pinot noir, Mission Martinborough 2012, which recently won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in London, is priced from $15.
Unless you're a ''label drinker'' you're likely to get more immediate pleasure from this than the prestigious age-worthy $100 Craggy Range Aroha, also from Martinborough.
BEST VALUE
$15-$20
Three and a half stars (out of five)
Good value
This is attractive with tingly red fruits, herbal and savoury undertones and a lovely fresh, spicy finish with a lingering aftertaste. Good drinking now.
$27
Three and a half stars
Average value
With red fruits, hints of mineral and pepper and a silky texture, this is an attractive, simple wine with a lively edge and crisp finish. A few more months bottle age will soften it.
$25
Three and a half satrs
Average value
Spicy, with mouthfilling sweet fruit, spicy oak, textural with dusty tannins and a lively finish, at three years old this is drinking well.
$32
Three and a half stars
Below average value
Fragrant with attractive red fruits, savoury undertones and a firm structure, this wine developed more charm and complexity with time in the glass. Give it another year to develop into a spicy, textural wine.
$31
Four stars
Average value
Oozing generous, juicy fruit (red and dark berries), layers of spice, a hint of mineral and a savoury undertone, this is mouth-filling and textural with firm, chalky tannins and a crisp, lingering finish. An attractive wine with the structure to allow bottle development.
about $100
Four and a half stars
Below average value
The top pinot of a prestigious producer, this complex young wine is restrained at present, its cherry plum and blueberry fruit supported by spicy oak with hints of coffee and dark chocolate, and a firm structure with a crisp, lively, harmonious finish.
A stylish wine, well worth cellaring for a few years to develop its potential.
