Not that it’s any suffering to taste a collection of Pinot Noir: I never tire of exploring new vintages of producers I know which is the case today, while unearthing producers or wines that are new to me is equally exciting. Long may that excitement continue for you all.
2022 Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Sweetly fruited nose,
smoke, dusty gravel,
red fruits, plum, wisps
of herb, a boldly
fruited style. Richly
flavoured palate based
on raspberry and
liquorice, integrated
and ready to enjoy, it’s
all about the
generosity of
expression. With air,
there’s liqueur fruits
amplifying the rich,
sweetly fruited core, a
style guaranteed to
win the hearts of
many.
2023 Mt Difficulty Ghost Town Bendigo Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
Impressions of
minerality, slate, clay,
earth, humus,
blackberry, brambly
herb. A drier palate, fruit
neatly in support, chewy
grip and backbone,
lovely energy and tension
to this with great carry.
The fruit flits between red
and black currants,
boysenberry too, with
time in the glass meat
stock and earthy
qualities. The acidity
more evident now,
emphasising freshness;
still lovely carry.
2024 McArthur Ridge Southern Tor Alexandra Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Feels more youthful,
darker berries, lead
pencil, followed by wet
stone and savoury
nuances, immediate
appeal. Freshly squished
berries, juiciness and a
little chalky grip on the
close, and while
relatively young this is
already open for
business. Good fruit
intensity and carry with
oak spices on the close,
A little youthful edginess
now, reminding us of its
potential.
2020 Domaine Rewa Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
Dusty, savoury, as it
takes on air florality,
perfume and schisty
minerality come into
view, less a fruit
statement, more about
the complexity.
Deceptively structured,
good chewy grip here.
Cranberry and red
berries, bright acidity and
tangy freshness, lead
pencil and minerality
frame the close. Still
some tautness to this that
I’m sure food will happily
uncoil, the freshness
goes on and on.
2021 Te Kano Life Series Central Otago Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Fragrant nose. toffee
oak perhaps, perfume,
stony influences, fruit
in the wings with a
suggestion of dryness?
The fruit jumps into
gear on the palate,
more in the dried fruit
spectrum, more
obviously sweetly ripe
now. Heart on its
sleeve stuff, open for
business yet there’s
good grip underpinning
it. With time, the
structure more evident,
lending nice chewiness
to the close.
2022 Grasshopper Rock Earnscleugh Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
Some nice things going
on, savoury/charcuterie
influences, wild herbs,
florals, darker fruits,
refinement rather than
exuberance. Real
crunchiness to the
texture, bright and
vibrant yet an underlying
tautness that speaks to
its youthful character.
Red fruits, spices,
herbs, once revealed
perhaps a more
structured expression
than some earlier
vintages, promising
reward in the cellar.
