I find myself thinking about collective nouns again as I seem to have had a quite a selection of pinot noirs across my tasting table recently. Pondering the movement or passage of liquid leads me to thinking stream and rivulet could work, creek not. River and torrent might fit the bill, canal not. Flume and sluice possible outliers, spillway not. Whatever the case I have been awash with pinot noir (which is a good thing!) and the all South Island collection today is collated from a number of tasting sessions. 2021 Ara Resolute Marlborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $34.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Raspberry fruit to the fore, perhaps blackcurrant too, wild herb/leafy notes, a perfumed quality building over time. The fruit leads the way here, herb and lavender elements in a supporting role, nicely balanced and integrated. Nothing stands out because nothing is out of place, tannins evident yet not dominating. www.arawines.co.nz 2017 Giesen Ridge Block SVS Marlborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $56.99 Rating Very Good to Excellent Pale and developed colour suggests age, perfume, dried herbs, subtle yet elegant, forest floor nuances later. Fascinating palate, a sense of lightness initially yet there’s deceptive depth and power lurking with tannins that show their mettle. Red fruited, strawberry, perhaps plum, a tangy element, developing crunchiness too. More about the structure than the fruit. www.giesen.co.nz 2022 Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir Price RRP $48 Rating Excellent Quite perfumed, flirting with rose petal and musk, savoury notes and barrel spice, raspberry fruit building, woodsmoke with aeration. Initially subtle but rather engaging, quietly building, still showing a little youthful rambunctiousness, raspberry again, earthiness, oak hints, the tannins beginning to flex their muscles. Just beginning to unfurl, nice pinosity. www.rockburn.co.nz 2022 Montana M Waipara Pinot Noir Price RRP $19.99 Rating Very Good Immediately different, smoke and gunflint, toffeed oak notes red fruits. Those characters are echoed on the palate, the red fruits at the core of the wine adding a dash of spice. Still some grippy tannins emphasising its youthfulness; they get the juices flowing. Not hugely complex, but nicely fruit driven and approachable. Very affordable. www.brancottestate.com 2019 Giesen Clayvin Marlborough Pinot Noir Price RRP $56.99 Rating Excellent Dustiness, earthy touches, minerality, fruit in support, a perception of richness. Richly fruited palate, nice depth here, fruit-sweet yet dry, supple yet good tannic core, silky at first and then nicely chewy. A powerful and brooding wine that clearly has some development but teases us with further potential. A bolder expression and nicely done. www.giesen.co.nz 2019 Carrick Excelsior Bannockburn Pinot Noir Price RRP $110 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Fascinating Marmitey/ umami aspect, savoury flecks, iron filings, earthy/humus, perfume quietly building. Quite a different expression, wisps of balsamic and warm leather, savoury notes, red fruits and lightness to this, yet a surprising tannic grip. A grainy quality to the texture with a wonderful carry, creeps up on me. Not so much fruit-driven, than by the complexity and interest. www.carrick.co.nz
