Pinot noirs from around the world

A sit down tasting of 11 geographically diverse pinots presented by Michael Schuster. My first experience of top German pinot noir, and both were very good indeed, although at £50+ a bottle I'm not going to be a buyer. The two aussies were both super and these I will seek out. The NZ a mixed bag and I much preferred the cheapie St Clair to the supposedly more ambitious offerings. I didn't like either of the Oregon wines, both overalcoholic, and unpleasantly herbal. The Rousseaus were a bit lost here.

• 2010 Saint Clair Family Estate Pinot Noir Pioneer Block 14 Doctor's Creek 91 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Young purple, bright oaky nose, smoky, peppery, light bodied, fresh, lingering tart finish! Fine

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• 2009 Mt. Difficulty Pinot Noir Pipeclay Terrace 89 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Lactic nose, fresh, bright fruit, butnfairly burgundian

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• 2010 Felton Road Pinot Noir Block 5 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  Bold, dense, bright and obviously new world, not much nuance

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• 2008 Giant Steps Pinot Noir Tarraford Vineyard 91 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Browner, but very direct pinot perfume, ripe on the palate, warm, a touch of earth, lovely (I'd have guessed burgundy)

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• 2009 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir Estate 90 Points

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

  Ripe nose, a touch of mintiness, lushly fruity, lots of energy, rich, very attractive

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• 2009 Antica Terra Pinot Noir 84 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Unpleasant stalky nose, aggressively peppery, ripe and porty on the palate, offsetting the stalkiness? But ultimately, stalky and over-alcoholic. Not very nice.

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• 2009 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Le Pavillon 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Indistinct nose, hot, thick, ripe, plummy, lots of sweet oak, way too alcoholic

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• 2008 Ziereisen Spätburgunder Jaspis Alte Reben 91 Points

  Germany, Baden

  Mouthwatering nose, lean, spicy, light bodied, lovely

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• 2009 Rudolf Fürst Schlossberg Spätburgunder 91 Points

  Germany, Franken

  Lean grippy nose, fragrant, very pinot, fresh, harmonious, lovely

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• 2008 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

  Still a touch of purple, at first had sweet marshmallow oak (which is odd as I presume there's no new oak here), quieter than the others, small but fine

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• 2008 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Very pale, some pretty sweet cherry fruit, but not much of it, a bit feeble

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