1998 Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 92.2 points

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  12/25/2020 - MGL Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points

  I bought this wine on a visit to NZ from US in 2001 and tucked it away. I popped it open this past Christmas to accompany our full Xmas turkey dinner. I was worried it would be far past its prime, but to my suprise it was not only full of fruit, it was unlike any pinot I have ever had. So much so, it caught me off-guard at first, not sure if i liked it or not. It tasted very much like cherry juice with a strong aroma of vanilla/oak and fruitcake (almost magic marker-like). As I said, nothing usual about it.
  The more I drank it the more I liked it. Soft tannins. It was almost like a course of its own at dinner. And sure enough, after reading the label the winery had amazingly predicted exactly how this wine would taste with age. All in all a real treat. I can only wonder how much longer it will last. Drink up!

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  8/4/2019 - Marc wrote: 94 Points

  Sunday Pot au feu at Pokai Parera (Pokai Parera, Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Nestled between two 1998 Jabot Premier and Grand Cru wines, this completely outclassed the French wines, in terms of aroma, palate, complexity, and state of maturity. Certainly one of the great early New Zealand Pinot Noirs, this has spectacular varietal intensity, and has certainly transformed with age. On release I found this wine to be far too oaky, and over-worked, but 21 years later, the wine comes across as harmonious and intense.

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  11/4/2015 - Marc wrote: 88 Points

  Labour Weekend at Pokai Parera (Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Very purple. Dense pinot nose of dark cherries, earth, candy cane, candied fruit and a hint of fecal matter. The is a dense wine, made in the manner of a blockbuster red. Very rich, huge oak, high acid, alcoholic and opaque. The oak and fruit are not integrated. While this is aging effortlessly, I do not see this wine developing, although it will endure. Extracted and pressed too hard, there is a touch of volatility. This blockbuster, almost cabernet style, does not suit the grape, in my opinion. As a drink, this is great fun and many would call it outstanding, but I struggle to see nuance here.

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  7/15/2015 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 93 Points

  Probably the oldest bottle of Kiwi Pinot that i've ever had. Still drinking extremely well. More savory than fruit forward.

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  6/15/2008 - Ian S wrote:

  Rich purple colour, deeper than expected and this at 10 years old. Little sign of age at rim.
  There's a smoky, spicy nose with great deoth of cherry fruit in support. On the palate there is both length and depth of flavour and the acidity is spot on. In a big style for Pinot Noir, but with great balance and in this style a really great example. No rush to drink either and could conceivably last another decade.

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View all 8 Community Tasting Notes

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