So much freshness on the nose and palate for a NZ pinot of this age. Raspberry, blackberry, and citrus peel fruitiness combined with a whole raft of savoury aromas like rhubarb, deli meats, compost, and stalks.
The palate is rich, with considerable presence. Nutty oak. Cleansing acid. The wine still has some impressive chalky, tannic, grip.
Opinion: Always a surprise packet, is this wine. From humble beginnings, and more Dry Red than pinot noir initially, this has blossomed into a wine of high interest. Unlikely to improve from here, but it will surely hold for a few more years.
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Found this in one of my wine fridges and wasn’t expecting a lot as well past recommended drinking but was pleasantly surprised great on the nose. Cherry and chocolate strongly on the palate, and greatly enjoyed it.
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Unfortunately, this bottle (and presumably this vintage) is well past its prime drinking window. The nose remains pleasant, and the initial taste contained typical rich pinot noir characteristics. Thereafter, the wine fell into disarray.
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My last and probably best bottle. Obviously new world but in a good way. Some age has given the plate a more integrated and silky texture. Ripe cherries, a little plummy with undergrowth characters. Really good use of oak and fine tannins. Will hold for some time yet but pretty good right now.
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Full, ripe, thickly sweet-fruited. Not a surprise at 14%. Not as bad as I thought though, and handled a mild Hyderabadi lamb curry well when kept cool. Functional rather than fun, and at the full end of the Pinot spectrum. **1/2
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Modern style of pinot in the plush NZ style. Rich, primary fruit framed with fine tannins. Has a bit of a sweet edge which I am not a fan of but pretty good overall.
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Villa Maria Tasting Seminar (Esquin Wine, Seattle): 30% new fr oak. 14 months in barrel using 5% whole cluster in the blend. very aromatic with intense perfume of dark fruits and floral note. ready for prime drinking - ripe red and dark fruits, dark chocolate. tannins are ripe and smooth. a bit of a big brute in terms of sheer weight and concentration on the palate but delicious nonetheless.
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typical ruby red as other NZ PN; extremely expressive nose with strong raspberries and cherries; moderate acidity, spicy, very fruity, subtle oak influence; a little loosen structure; only 10s aftertaste; a typical and very fine NZ PN
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Quite dark colour. Nose quite dark with hints of almost plum and some red currant. The taste is direct and quite big. Very fullbodied with some acid. The wine is balancing on a edge, some sips are acidic and powerful and some are smoother and have hints of vanilla. Depends on how recent you poured the glass or what was dominant on the last fork of food. Really interesting, with a couple of years this wine will be excellent. 90-92
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The wines of Villa Maria: A really fun wine with vibrant aromas of blueberries, coffee, floral and cherry. On the palate it shows some sweet fruit, cranberry, subtle oak, floral notes. Medium finish and a bit more concentrated than Willamette Valley Pinots.
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5/29/2021 - mphatic Likes this wine:
Screwcap, 14% alc. Bricking, dull red.
So much freshness on the nose and palate for a NZ pinot of this age. Raspberry, blackberry, and citrus peel fruitiness combined with a whole raft of savoury aromas like rhubarb, deli meats, compost, and stalks.
The palate is rich, with considerable presence. Nutty oak. Cleansing acid. The wine still has some impressive chalky, tannic, grip.
Opinion: Always a surprise packet, is this wine. From humble beginnings, and more Dry Red than pinot noir initially, this has blossomed into a wine of high interest. Unlikely to improve from here, but it will surely hold for a few more years.
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6/13/2020 - Parkfield15 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Found this in one of my wine fridges and wasn’t expecting a lot as well past recommended drinking but was pleasantly surprised great on the nose. Cherry and chocolate strongly on the palate, and greatly enjoyed it.
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5/13/2019 - mphatic wrote:
Screwcap, 14% alc.
A savoury, undergrowth-driven Pinot that merges bright cherry, raspberry, delicately smoky oak, and woody spices.
Tannins are still present, and the wine has a good acid line. Some alcohol warmth on the palate is the only distraction.
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12/28/2018 - CDStrombom wrote: 87 Points
Unfortunately, this bottle (and presumably this vintage) is well past its prime drinking window. The nose remains pleasant, and the initial taste contained typical rich pinot noir characteristics. Thereafter, the wine fell into disarray.
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1/24/2017 - APJS70 wrote: 92 Points
One of the better new world Pinots I've tasted. "In the zone" for drinking now. Aromatic, fruity, silky, and lingering complexity. Yum!
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8/29/2016 - Jon & Rachel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Such a shame we dont own more of this wine! 9 years young with hints of violet and blackberry still with a fantastic lingering black forest finish.
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4/30/2015 - deverett wrote: 91 Points
My last and probably best bottle. Obviously new world but in a good way. Some age has given the plate a more integrated and silky texture. Ripe cherries, a little plummy with undergrowth characters. Really good use of oak and fine tannins. Will hold for some time yet but pretty good right now.
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1/26/2015 - SimonG wrote: 85 Points
Full, ripe, thickly sweet-fruited. Not a surprise at 14%. Not as bad as I thought though, and handled a mild Hyderabadi lamb curry well when kept cool. Functional rather than fun, and at the full end of the Pinot spectrum. **1/2
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11/27/2014 - mphatic wrote:
Intense dark fruit in the typical NZ mould. Years of development left. Drinking very nicely now.
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4/24/2014 - deverett wrote: 89 Points
Modern style of pinot in the plush NZ style. Rich, primary fruit framed with fine tannins. Has a bit of a sweet edge which I am not a fan of but pretty good overall.
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12/30/2013 - guy12 wrote: 90 Points
No sign of age & no bitterness that you get from some nz Pinot. Nice cherry & plum, slipped down very easily
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9/17/2012 - mattyboy_ Likes this wine: 91 Points
Villa Maria Tasting Seminar (Esquin Wine, Seattle): 30% new fr oak. 14 months in barrel using 5% whole cluster in the blend.
very aromatic with intense perfume of dark fruits and floral note.
ready for prime drinking - ripe red and dark fruits, dark chocolate. tannins are ripe and smooth. a bit of a big brute in terms of sheer weight and concentration on the palate but delicious nonetheless.
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12/8/2010 - burgburgburg wrote: 89 Points
typical ruby red as other NZ PN; extremely expressive nose with strong raspberries and cherries; moderate acidity, spicy, very fruity, subtle oak influence; a little loosen structure; only 10s aftertaste; a typical and very fine NZ PN
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11/25/2010 - varnhem wrote: 90 Points
Quite dark colour. Nose quite dark with hints of almost plum and some red currant.
The taste is direct and quite big. Very fullbodied with some acid. The wine is balancing on a edge, some sips are acidic and powerful and some are smoother and have hints of vanilla. Depends on how recent you poured the glass or what was dominant on the last fork of food. Really interesting, with a couple of years this wine will be excellent. 90-92
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10/30/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 92 Points
The wines of Villa Maria: A really fun wine with vibrant aromas of blueberries, coffee, floral and cherry. On the palate it shows some sweet fruit, cranberry, subtle oak, floral notes. Medium finish and a bit more concentrated than Willamette Valley Pinots.
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