This selection of mostly Marlborough wines reinforces that view by providing an appealing depth and ripeness of fruit that offers real immediacy - yet there’s enough gas in the tank to see these travel along for a few years yet.
2019 Scout Southern Valleys Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Very good
Smoke, oak char, raspberry,
florailty. A tightly coiled
palate that isn’t really
expressing itself today, the
complexity hidden.
Aeration allows this to
open up somewhat, the
sweet core of dried
strawberry-tinged fruit
met by leaf and
savoury nuances, while
there’s a chalky grip to
the texture. May just
need some time to
unfurl.
2019 Saint Clair James Sinclair Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Excellent
Darker, slightly brooding
aspect to this, bonfire
embers, dark cherry, sweet
fruit pastilles, fragrance.
There’s a suppleness and
depth to the fruit that fills
the mouth, balanced by
juicy vibrancy, energy
and freshness, a little
chewiness adding to the
textural impact, adding a
wisp of leaf. Nice
balance and integration
yet potential too. Leaves
you salivating.
2019 Churton Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Excellent to outstanding
Subtly expressed nose,
savoury notes to the fore,
attractive purity, spices and
fruit blossom, hints of
raspberry cordial with time.
Silky and rich, flooding the
mouth with fruit, mixed red
& dark berries mingling
with spice and savoury
hints and black tea. Fine
tannic structure,
crispness and
crunchiness that leaves
you salivating for more.
Lovely completeness.
2019 Scout Omihi Waipara pinot noir
Rating: Excellent to
outstanding
Expressive fruit, fragrance,
wild herbs, fruit jube, flitting
between strawberry &
raspberry, fleeting savoury
notes. Juiciness on entry,
the fruit dancing in the
mouth before the tannic
structure floods in,
lending a drying aspect
to balance. Raspberry
and savoury nuances
develop. A medium-
weight style with
excellent balance and
depth of flavour.
2019 Giesen Uncharted Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Excellent
An intriguing fragrance
builds, tilled earth, warm
leather, smoke, mixed berry
jus. Richly mouthfilling,
nice integration, intense
dark fruits, spice and
savoury notes with
vibrancy and crispness
to the palate. Sweet fruit
notes grow with
aeration with a
blueberry, spice and
savoury-accented finish
revealing some of its
youth. Drinkability and
potential too.
2019 Mahi Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Very good to excellent
A wild hint, dusty/stony
minerality, wild herbs,
forest floor, savoury
nuances and darker fruits. A
tangy crunchiness to the
palate, bright acidity and a
grainy edge to the tannins
with a lip-smacking,
crunchy finish. This
speaks of potential
rather than immediacy
with a youthful
brashness. I am
probably underscoring
this, and time will be a
friend.
2019 Jules Taylor OTQ Single Vineyard Limited Release Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Excellent
Savoury, umami notes,
liqueur fruits, tilled earth,
bonfire embers, tobacco.
Powerful fruit backed by
powerful tannins that
seem almost monolithic
at first, but opens up
markedly with aeration.
Definitely a real impact,
statement wine with the
"oomph" factor, yet
clearly Pinot too. Crying
out for some bottle age
or decant it if opening
now.
2019 Hunter’s Marlborough pinot noir
Rating: Very good
Fascinating nose, sweetly
floral, hinting at violets with
boot polish and darker fruits.
Richly mouthfilling, this is a
bit of a bruiser for now, with
sweet fruits, earthy touches
and dark chocolate notes
underpinned by quite
evident tannic structure.
Shows a tangy side as it
opens up with a little
youthful rawness. Will
appeal to fans of
"bigger" pinots.