Medium dark brownish cherry-coke in color. Leafy nose of decomposing tomato leaves with black pepper, dried and stewed plums and cherries, dried currants, a bit of milk chocolate, and a bit of chili pepper. Medium-heavy bodied, balanced acidity, and a decent amount of sweetness. Plate of fresh and dried cherries, dried strawberries, cola, tobacco leaves. Still some fuzzy tannins. Long herbs/tobacco leaves and cherry cola finish.
Definitely past it’s prime, but it is still holding on.
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Tasted this wine three different times throughout the year and had very different notes on it. This last one was in a blind tasting of various Pinot Noir's from around the World and this showed as the best wine for all four of us who participated. Pale crimson in colour. What a compelling nose with pure, savoury red berries layered with rosemary and sage. So smooth and understated with feathery tannins and refreshing cornelian cherry flavours. Sappy and very zesty.
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Medium ruby wine with garnet shades. Elegant nose with strawberry marmelade and cherry aromas layered with an earthy tang leading the way to notes of licorice and leather. Succulent and caressing with fine grained tannins that give enough backbone to this well poised, bright wine that has a fairly long, persistent finish. Would quite possibly think this was a good, village Burgundy if tasted blind.
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Opened several hours before drinking. Softness,balance and cherry with ability to stand up to strong mushroom flavors.. screw cap keeps it fresh, will be interesting to see how long it lasts
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Certainly time to drink this one. Wait six months and it'll be on the downside. Pale color, moderate fruit with some loamy aspects. Not as much cherry as I thought there would be which is fine with me.
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Despite the high alcohol content, pinot characteristics are true and consistent. Soft fruits, slight hint of gentle tannins, nicely integrated with lovely mouth feel. Incredible value on offer at $9, very good value at regular $13
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My experience tasting a full glass of this wine was really Dr. Jekyll, Mr Hyde. When the server poured, and on the nose, I said needs some air, it seemed a little tight. Even the first taste was saying decant, or vinturi. So I took my time sipping along, no hurry. By the time I got to the bottom of the glass, it seemed watered down and washed out. I have never been a fan of the flavor characteristics of New Zealand Pinot Noir. There is always some pungent, off flavors and aromas that interfere with the reason we drink Pinot in the first place. Even the rim was a little more clear than expected. I got a slight hit of diesel, and changed motor oil. There was some bright plum and black cherry fruit, but it was surrounded with sharp, brambly, tree sap flavors. They did a nice job with the acid. Not much influence from oak. Where did all the flavor go? Did they have to heavy filter. The finish was really short, not fruity, and made me wish I would have tried something else.
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Good, but mostly just in a "this really isn't that bad for a New World pinot" sort of way. I'd prefer to drink less pinot noir but have the bottles I drink be from Burgundy. This just doesn't really work for me.
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Great nose of dark cherry, cocoa, eucalyptus, some herbal elements and earth. On the palate medium body pinot, velvety smooth, dark cherry, spice, sweet, nice acidity. Not very complex now, but cuts through food nicely. Good with some upside over short term.
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Nice bouquet of cherry and strawberries. Fruit forward, without being jammy like a shiraz/zinfandel. The color was light as was the overall body and mouth feel. It did have a sweet taste to it along with fruit aspect. Nice wine if you like it on the sweeter side.
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14.0% alcohol. Striking to have this alongside other Pinots. It becomes much spicier, rather than just a simple expression of black cherry. Very nice and terrific value. A-
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14.0% alcohol. This is, without a doubt, the finest value Pinot Noir I've had all year. For roughly $15, you get a bright cherry-colored wine that is the essence of black cherry. Lovely black cherry dominates the nose, with a hint of spice and minerals. In the mouth, lively, fresh, and focused, with a palate bursting forth with juicy black cherry fruit. It is rare to find a wine with such beautiful and singular expression of fruit in Pinot. That makes this a pure delight. Racy acidity makes it a terrific food match. Just great to sip. A-/A
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1/8/2023 - ChateauShiny wrote: 87 Points
Medium dark brownish cherry-coke in color. Leafy nose of decomposing tomato leaves with black pepper, dried and stewed plums and cherries, dried currants, a bit of milk chocolate, and a bit of chili pepper. Medium-heavy bodied, balanced acidity, and a decent amount of sweetness. Plate of fresh and dried cherries, dried strawberries, cola, tobacco leaves. Still some fuzzy tannins. Long herbs/tobacco leaves and cherry cola finish.
Definitely past it’s prime, but it is still holding on.
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12/25/2014 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
Starting to display darker tints round rim. Barnyard and attractive acidity
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11/19/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 91 Points
Tasted this wine three different times throughout the year and had very different notes on it. This last one was in a blind tasting of various Pinot Noir's from around the World and this showed as the best wine for all four of us who participated.
Pale crimson in colour. What a compelling nose with pure, savoury red berries layered with rosemary and sage. So smooth and understated with feathery tannins and refreshing cornelian cherry flavours. Sappy and very zesty.
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1/21/2014 - Umay Ceviker wrote: 89 Points
Medium ruby wine with garnet shades. Elegant nose with strawberry marmelade and cherry aromas layered with an earthy tang leading the way to notes of licorice and leather. Succulent and caressing with fine grained tannins that give enough backbone to this well poised, bright wine that has a fairly long, persistent finish. Would quite possibly think this was a good, village Burgundy if tasted blind.
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9/16/2013 - jmcmchi wrote: 89 Points
Opened several hours before drinking. Softness,balance and cherry with ability to stand up to strong mushroom flavors.. screw cap keeps it fresh, will be interesting to see how long it lasts
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3/24/2013 - Doughkg wrote: 89 Points
Drank w salmon and good pairing
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3/24/2013 - Doughkg Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good value.
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3/18/2013 - Jayarr wrote: 88 Points
Certainly time to drink this one. Wait six months and it'll be on the downside. Pale color, moderate fruit with some loamy aspects. Not as much cherry as I thought there would be which is fine with me.
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2/11/2013 - jeward wrote: 88 Points
Smooth,medium body wine. Well balanced fruit and tannins. Long, silky finish.
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12/27/2012 - mikesvins wrote: 89 Points
Enjoyed after 4 days under vacuum, opens up with sweet cherries , medium body good aroma & finish. Pleasant surprise
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11/7/2012 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote: 88 Points
Fine bargain NZ PN juice, and worth the extra $5 from their standard.
88 pts.
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10/22/2012 - mikesvins wrote: 86 Points
I believe this is going in the wrong direction (like our country), time to drink up
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6/23/2012 - jmcmchi wrote: 88 Points
Despite the high alcohol content, pinot characteristics are true and consistent. Soft fruits, slight hint of gentle tannins, nicely integrated with lovely mouth feel. Incredible value on offer at $9, very good value at regular $13
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3/28/2012 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 Points
My experience tasting a full glass of this wine was really Dr. Jekyll, Mr Hyde. When the server poured, and on the nose, I said needs some air, it seemed a little tight. Even the first taste was saying decant, or vinturi. So I took my time sipping along, no hurry. By the time I got to the bottom of the glass, it seemed watered down and washed out. I have never been a fan of the flavor characteristics of New Zealand Pinot Noir. There is always some pungent, off flavors and aromas that interfere with the reason we drink Pinot in the first place. Even the rim was a little more clear than expected. I got a slight hit of diesel, and changed motor oil. There was some bright plum and black cherry fruit, but it was surrounded with sharp, brambly, tree sap flavors. They did a nice job with the acid. Not much influence from oak. Where did all the flavor go? Did they have to heavy filter. The finish was really short, not fruity, and made me wish I would have tried something else.
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2/6/2012 - Enfant sauvage wrote: 87 Points
Good, but mostly just in a "this really isn't that bad for a New World pinot" sort of way. I'd prefer to drink less pinot noir but have the bottles I drink be from Burgundy. This just doesn't really work for me.
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1/17/2012 - Vervelb wrote: 90 Points
Dark cherry, strawberry, light body, nice balance.
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12/11/2011 - james_timothy wrote: 88 Points
Smooth and structured- low fruit, lovely soft tannins at the end, a long mouth feel. Very nice.
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6/24/2011 - mikesvins wrote: 87 Points
Great nose of dark cherry, cocoa, eucalyptus, some herbal elements and earth. On the palate medium body pinot, velvety smooth, dark cherry, spice, sweet, nice acidity. Not very complex now, but cuts through food nicely. Good with some upside over short term.
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4/24/2011 - flyinges wrote: 88 Points
Nice bouquet of cherry and strawberries. Fruit forward, without being jammy like a shiraz/zinfandel. The color was light as was the overall body and mouth feel. It did have a sweet taste to it along with fruit aspect. Nice wine if you like it on the sweeter side.
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11/19/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.0% alcohol. Striking to have this alongside other Pinots. It becomes much spicier, rather than just a simple expression of black cherry. Very nice and terrific value. A-
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11/6/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
14.0% alcohol. This is, without a doubt, the finest value Pinot Noir I've had all year. For roughly $15, you get a bright cherry-colored wine that is the essence of black cherry. Lovely black cherry dominates the nose, with a hint of spice and minerals. In the mouth, lively, fresh, and focused, with a palate bursting forth with juicy black cherry fruit. It is rare to find a wine with such beautiful and singular expression of fruit in Pinot. That makes this a pure delight. Racy acidity makes it a terrific food match. Just great to sip. A-/A
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