There are a few brands of wine that regularly offer great value. Main Divide wines, with their ripe fruit, complexity and texture, from the award-winning Pegasus Bay winery in Wairarapa north of Christchurch, is one of them.
BEST VALUE
$25
Four stars (out of five)
Good value
Generous ripe fruit with savoury, spicy undertones, rich, flavoursome and well structured with fine grained tannins. Satisfying.
$25
Three stars
Average value
Light red fruits with a vegetal edge, underlying hints of licorice, spice and charred oak, and a dusty, fruity finish. A lighter style of wine.
$29
Three stars
Below average value
Light in the mouth with hints of cherry and spicy fruit, underlying nuances of mineral and licorice and a simple, crisp finish. This is unoaked pinot noir.
$32
Four stars
Good value
With hints of cherries, spice and mineral, this is mouth-filling with layers of complexity, well structured with subtle supporting oak and fine-grained tannins it is delicious.
$39
Four stars
Average value
This took a while in the glass to reveal its fruit, savoury licorice undertones and hints of new leather, but its structure, fresh, firm finish and a long satisfying aftertaste indicate it will develop over a year or two.
$60
Four and a half stars
Average value
A youthful wine, just starting to reveal its charms - dark, spicy fruit, with rich savoury undertones, a firm structure with fruit weight and a stylish, elegant finish. Give it another few years to develop its potential.
ANOTHER GLASS
Ara Pathway Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
$22
Three stars
Average value
A light wine with hints of charred oak, cherry plums, pine needles and raw timber, and a lively edge. Best served slightly chilled.
Ara Select Blocks Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012
$30
Three and a half stars
Average value
A lively wine, with hints of elderberry and edgy red fruits, savoury suggestions, but concentrated and textural with a crisp, lively finish.