Dark, rusty burgundy in color. Lots of red fruit off the nose. More stewed than bright, but very evident. Some iodine and meaty characteristics. Perfectly balanced. Smooth. Heady. Longish finish. Taste like the nose. High QPR (-1 Pt)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is my last bottle of this vintage and I have thoroughly enjoyed every bottle. This bottle opened and decanted for 30 minutes to accompany turkey at Christmas dinner. It was a great match. Ten years on from the vintage and it is drinking wonderfully, however I wouldn't recommend keeping for any longer. Lots of cherry and strawberry fruit. Smooth, with soft tannins. A good amount of body. I'd say it's the perfect demonstration of how a well made New Zealand pinot can keep for 10 years, yet still provide the fresh fruit enjoyment that would normally be found in a younger pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I always think it is a shame that so many new world wines are drunk young. Yes, of course pinots like this are made to be ready to drink early and the winemakers encourage that. But drinking a good pinot like this at 10 years after the vintage shows what a great experience mature pinot brings. The appearance was generally still young, medium Burgundy colour. There's good fruit on the nose and palate, with a hint of strawberries, also an overtone of charred meat. The palate shows cherries with a slight bitterness. Medium length, rich. Hugely enjoyable. It is fully mature now, drinking very well, I wouldn't recommend keeping any longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Patience was required with this New World Pinot Noir.... nearly 10 years old, and the acidity and fruit have woven together like , a fine carpet. Dense cherry pit and hints of coffee on nose, ripe blueberry,clove and cinnamon as well as herbal characteristics on palate...may have 2-3 more years to age, no rush.... . not Burgundian, but a fine example of New World wine making.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
{cork, 14%} Cherry and pastrami, but there's also a flat metallic tinge that I suspect might have been caused by (yet another) weeping cork. Level wasn't down much, but I'm still not confident this is showing its best. Ripe and warm, with fine dusty tannins and a decent spine of acid, it's medium/full-bodied by pinot standards, but a bit hollow on the mid-palate, despite its medium length finish. Probably a pretty decent wine, if the cork has behaved itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Exceptional; consumed over several days with family, and as partner to a variety of meals! Nose dry berries, what I believe to be well-integrated tannins and this after being open and at room temperature for about 1.5hrs. Not decanted; I can and will be obtaining more of this and would recommend you do too, especially as it may well improve for a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Cherries, strawberries and wood smoke on a generous 'wow' nose! Strawberry fruit on the palate but still structured with mouth puckering acidity and tannins to counteract the sweetness. A very more-ish mouthful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially overpowering nose with smoky undertones. Mellows into an addictive rounded finish. suprisingly enjoyable as I don't usually do new world wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very nice balance, less spice than the others, good medium weight with a bit more cherry fruit and more structure in the tannins; slight earthy notes and fern aspect. Very good NZ Pinot. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark, almost blue. Savoury, toasty, oaky bouquet. Impressive mid-palate density, expressive and assertive core of rich crunchy fruit - more blackberry than the more typical raspberry - touch of sweetness on the finish accompanied by notes of molasses and a light cocoa dusting. Very good, if a touch heavy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ripe and dark berries on the nose, but in the pinot noir spectrum. Quite attractive. Good texture and length, medium to fullish bodied for a pinot noir but still well balanced, dark berry fruits predominant, a twist of burnt sugar on the end a nice contrast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very soft on the palate, carmel and sweet oak on the nose, rather flat finish. Coming across as extremely simple to me. Just opened. Maybe it will go some place? For $35 I certainly hope so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delightful nose with cherry and oak driven spice. The palate is full and round but the finish disappoints with a rather astringent acidic note which is out of keeping with the wine as a whole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/13/2020 - Genghis88 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark, rusty burgundy in color.
Lots of red fruit off the nose. More stewed than bright, but very evident. Some iodine and meaty characteristics.
Perfectly balanced. Smooth. Heady. Longish finish. Taste like the nose. High QPR (-1 Pt)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2018 - Keith Cooper wrote: 95 Points
This is my last bottle of this vintage and I have thoroughly enjoyed every bottle. This bottle opened and decanted for 30 minutes to accompany turkey at Christmas dinner. It was a great match. Ten years on from the vintage and it is drinking wonderfully, however I wouldn't recommend keeping for any longer. Lots of cherry and strawberry fruit. Smooth, with soft tannins. A good amount of body. I'd say it's the perfect demonstration of how a well made New Zealand pinot can keep for 10 years, yet still provide the fresh fruit enjoyment that would normally be found in a younger pinot.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2018 - Keith Cooper Likes this wine: 95 Points
I always think it is a shame that so many new world wines are drunk young. Yes, of course pinots like this are made to be ready to drink early and the winemakers encourage that. But drinking a good pinot like this at 10 years after the vintage shows what a great experience mature pinot brings. The appearance was generally still young, medium Burgundy colour. There's good fruit on the nose and palate, with a hint of strawberries, also an overtone of charred meat. The palate shows cherries with a slight bitterness. Medium length, rich. Hugely enjoyable. It is fully mature now, drinking very well, I wouldn't recommend keeping any longer.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/19/2017 - Pontifax Likes this wine: 92 Points
Patience was required with this New World Pinot Noir.... nearly 10 years old, and the acidity and fruit have woven together like , a fine carpet.
Dense cherry pit and hints of coffee on nose, ripe blueberry,clove and cinnamon as well as herbal characteristics on palate...may have 2-3 more years to age, no rush.... . not Burgundian, but a fine example of New World wine making.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2014 - graemeg wrote: flawed
{cork, 14%} Cherry and pastrami, but there's also a flat metallic tinge that I suspect might have been caused by (yet another) weeping cork. Level wasn't down much, but I'm still not confident this is showing its best. Ripe and warm, with fine dusty tannins and a decent spine of acid, it's medium/full-bodied by pinot standards, but a bit hollow on the mid-palate, despite its medium length finish. Probably a pretty decent wine, if the cork has behaved itself.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2013 - Brayblaggs wrote:
- Garnet color and aromas of phenolic and cherry and has flavours of cherry with a medium body with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2013 - Flennerz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Exceptional; consumed over several days with family, and as partner to a variety of meals! Nose dry berries, what I believe to be well-integrated tannins and this after being open and at room temperature for about 1.5hrs. Not decanted; I can and will be obtaining more of this and would recommend you do too, especially as it may well improve for a year or two.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2013 - henrygjeffreys Likes this wine:
very ripe fruit but not sweet
earthy, dark cherries, t. caramel
rich, nicely-balanced
good texture
much better than average NZ pinot
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2013 - MissHighwater Likes this wine: 90 Points
Cherries, strawberries and wood smoke on a generous 'wow' nose! Strawberry fruit on the palate but still structured with mouth puckering acidity and tannins to counteract the sweetness. A very more-ish mouthful!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2013 - kendag wrote: 90 Points
Initially overpowering nose with smoky undertones. Mellows into an addictive rounded finish. suprisingly enjoyable as I don't usually do new world wines.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/5/2012 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Very nice balance, less spice than the others, good medium weight with a bit more cherry fruit and more structure in the tannins; slight earthy notes and fern aspect. Very good NZ Pinot. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2012 - fanglangzhe wrote: 88 Points
Smell: strawberry, raspberry. Taste: red berries, restrained oak, spices. Bad QPR at $40.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/17/2011 - ricard Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark, almost blue. Savoury, toasty, oaky bouquet. Impressive mid-palate density, expressive and assertive core of rich crunchy fruit - more blackberry than the more typical raspberry - touch of sweetness on the finish accompanied by notes of molasses and a light cocoa dusting. Very good, if a touch heavy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/22/2011 - lightning Likes this wine: 89 Points
Ripe and dark berries on the nose, but in the pinot noir spectrum. Quite attractive. Good texture and length, medium to fullish bodied for a pinot noir but still well balanced, dark berry fruits predominant, a twist of burnt sugar on the end a nice contrast.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Fleshing out, but still not $35.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2011 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Very soft on the palate, carmel and sweet oak on the nose, rather flat finish. Coming across as extremely simple to me. Just opened. Maybe it will go some place? For $35 I certainly hope so.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2011 - dustbuddy wrote: 88 Points
Delightful nose with cherry and oak driven spice. The palate is full and round but the finish disappoints with a rather astringent acidic note which is out of keeping with the wine as a whole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2011 - vespasian wrote: 83 Points
Quite dark fruits akin to Otago; Nice fruit flavours but lacking a little concentration. Brutal acidity. Fine but unexciting.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment