I came out of the tasting incredibly heartened as these wines are competitively priced (often cheaper on promo than their RRPs) and widely available for the average consumer. They are crafted to be enjoyed young, and while they may not have the utterly thrilling complexity of the very finest examples, they all offered so, so much pleasure and drinkability. I’d be delighted to find any of them on a wine list.
2023 Roaring Meg by Mt Difficulty Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Bold and attractive
nose, red and dark
berryfruits, charry oak
toast aspects, a top
note of herb, hints of
florality later. Starts off
with a silky entry, great
fruit weight and depth of
flavour, light, chewy
grip adding to the
structure. Youthful,
juicy, showing more
light to medium-weight
credentials over time.
Nicely done and a lot of
bang for your buck.
2024 Domaine Thomson Explorer Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Really interesting nose,
a sense of minerality,
wisps of humus/forest
floor, darker fruits
(perhaps boysenberry).
refined. Creamy entry,
mouthfilling, richly
flavoured, nice grip here
without dominating, a
little stony minerality
joining the fruit and
great carry. Grows with
air as does the
complexity. Balance,
integration, effortless
and quite assured.
Smart wine.
2023 Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Bright fruits lead, in
the blueberry and red
fruits spectrum, fresh
and quite youthfully
expressed. Light to
medium-weight
palate, there’s zesty
freshness rather than
being a brooding
beast, red fruits, a
touch of cooling
cranberry, and a little
charry backdrop.
Chewy grip on the
close. Clearly crafted
to open and enjoy
now.
2023 McArthur Ridge Brassknocker Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
A little touch of florals,
darker fruits hinting at
liqueur fruits/berry
compote, a hint of
smoke. Lovely
generosity of flavour,
accentuating those riper
fruits, filling the mouth
and showing its youthful
qualities. With air it
settles into its groove
nicely, less bold and
rich now but all about
the great drinkability. On
reveal, very good vfm
here.
2023 Crimson Peak by Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
The fruit shines out of
the glass, blueberry,
mixed berryfuits, lead
pencil, a wisp of oak
spices. Engaging.
Lovely fruit purity,
depth without
heaviness while there’s
a sense of fine tautness
that just builds
structure. Excellent
carry. With air a little
wild herb top note on
the nose, a long spice
tinged close, merging
appeal and interest with
sheer drinkability.
2023 Misha’s Vineyard Tempo Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
Powerfully floral and
perfumed, lavender,
herbs, white flower
florals, a little savoury
nuance with air.
Bright, youthful, juicy,
vibrant, the nicely
chewy feel to the
palate just adds to the
whole. With air the
nose picks up
balsamic/salinity
influences, the palate
earthy/savoury
nuances, so much to
draw you back for
more here.
