It was exciting to sit down to today’s selection of Central Otago Pinot Noir as I think that I can fairly say that vignerons have been delighted by the quality of the fruit over recent vintages, which is clearly reflected in the wines. A bit of a shout out to Valli as well as they have just joined the 25-year club, holding a celebratory weekend of tastings and dinners over the last weekend of January. Congratulations on the achievement and I look forward to following the wines in the future. 2022 Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir Price RRP $85 Rating Outstanding Alluring & beguiling nose, savoury qualities, earthy touches, red fruits, spice a wild herb undercurrent, perfume swelling, a little flint later. Ripely fruited, powerful yet not heavy, plum & cherry showing, fresh stalky touches on a silky, vibrant, beautifully balanced palate with a long, long finish. Complete, truly gorgeous, seduction in a glass. www.valliwine.com 2020 McArthur Ridge McArthur Alexandra Pinot Noir Price RRP $79.99 Rating Excellent Smoky notes, a sense of gravelly minerality, red fruits & fragrance building in the glass. A burst of raspberry leads the way, wisps of pencil lead and herb, this is more tautly structured with grainy tannins, hinting at what is to come. Youthful, fresh, the fruit builds on both nose & palate with aeration, adding a tingly aspect to the long close. More to come I’m sure. www.mcarthurridge.com 2021 Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir Price RRP $51 Rating Outstanding Almost brooding in a positive way, subtle schisty notes, plum & darker fruits bubble up, tar/licorice, herb flecks. Power and concentration with tannic structure to match, mouthfilling, ripe yet quite dry, black fruits. Again that brooding quality, there’s clear complexity, intensity and richness yet this speaks to its potential for the future. www.carrick.co.nz 2022 Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir Price RRP $85 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Fragrant lifted nose, becomes smoky & savoury, dried herbs, red fruits, graphite, anise, you can swirl the glass for an age. Vibrant in the mouth, bright acidity gives real energy, a bowl of ripe summer berries, lovely concentration. Revisiting this, the class is evident, a sense of coolness, growing minerality, super balance. Already delicious; should pair well with food. www.valliwine.com 2022 Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir Price RRP $95 exclusive to cellar door & Kinross Rating Very Good to Excellent Immediately expressive, red fruits, blueberry & plum, iron filings, fragrance as it opens in the glass. Sweet fruit to the fore, wisps of charry oak, grainy & minerally with deceptive tannins. On the one hand great concentration and openness, on the other a backbone of structure for the future. With time savoury qualities and darker fruits grow, dense, open yet potential. www.coalpitwine.com 2022 Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir Price RRP $85 Rating Excellent to Outstanding Immediate volume on the nose, darker fruits, savoury, sweet forest floor scents, riverstones, perfume building. A spice & savoury led palate, liveliness with lovely integration, surprising power a backstop to the wine. Ripe yet dry, it bounds from complexity and elegance to boldness, all this with a long, zesty close. One to luxuriate in. www.valliwine.com
