December 16, 2016 - 89+
La dernière. Encore beaucoup de fruits et de fraîcheur. Tanins assouplis mais encore présents. Belle présence. Définitivement Nouveau-Monde.
February 13, 2013 - Uncrewed to slow-O overnight. Notes from following day. Color is a dark brick red, about 50% saturated with quick and clear legs. Profound aroma of dark toasted oak, prune, cherry, plum, and a bounty of dirt and earth. Soft attack with grippy tannins and a wide swath of flavor across the palate. Average acidity, big umami factor and although it's warm, it is not hot on the abv. Long, smoky finish. 4+12+16+7 = 89
April 6, 2012 - Good nose. Great taste of dark fruits, cherries and spice. Better than the first bottle, seems to still have a few good years ahead.
Decante at least 30 minutes.
January 29, 2012 - Pas de notes détaillées. Projection 5/10, fruits confits, touche végétale élégante, boisé, invitant mais manque de fraîcheur. Le nez a évolué toute la soirée par ailleurs, initialement austère, il s'est ouvert graduellement en devenant de plus en plus charmeur, dévoilant des épices douces, et gagnant en complexité au fur et à mesure.
Bouche : ample, sec, acidité modérée, tanins plutôt souples et de grain moyen, persistance moyenne+, rétro fruitée, boisée, végétale, épicée.
Conclusion : bel ensemble. Un peu plus de fraîcheur pour le faire vibrer aurait été bienvenu. Tout de même excellent.
October 22, 2011 - Was ready to be drank. Better after 30 minutes of decantation. Perfect for sweet and sour meal (general tao chicken).
Not as persistent as I was expecting.
November 14, 2010 - Under screwcap, so it took several minutes for the fizz to go away. Fruit-driven nose with dark cherries, plums and pomegranate. Definitely in the darker end of the spectrum for a central otago pinot. There is more than just a fruit bomb here; some nice earthy notes, and developing secondary character. The oak is probably rather toasted but this adds to the complexity of the wine.
On palate, lovely rich fruit with great silkyness. It has more than just a sappy and rich front palate which is usually the case with central Otago pinot noir. There are some good tannins here and some spices and dried herbs. A very well balanced wine.
September 26, 2010 - Lots of stalky and brambly notes, and no lack of fruit. Probably should have left it for much longer to see how much complexity would evolve, but I enjoyed it.
February 18, 2009 - Molana. Considerable depth of fruit and good balance, needs some time. All that said, no match for a couple of good burgundies at the table.
August 8, 2008 - Full red in color. Cinnamon, cherry and other spices on the nose. Raspberry and spice flavors as well as mineral notes. Delicacy and elegance. Fine texture and leather with complexity. Very long smooth finish.