Posted: November 30, 2021
This fortified wine from the deep south is instantly appealing. Made in a ‘ruby style’ from St Laurent grapes (a traditional Austrian variety), and matured for seven months in French oak barriques, it is delicious young. Deeply coloured, it is…
Comments Off on Judge Rock The Verdict Central Otago Port 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This North Otago red was matured for 10 months in French oak casks (20% new). Showing some colour maturity, it has a fragrant, slightly leafy bouquet, leading into a vibrant, supple wine with strongly varietal, moderately concentrated cherry, plum, herb…
Comments Off on Tatty Bogler Waitaki Valley Pinot Noir 2015 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Scented and supple, this finely balanced red was matured for a year in French oak casks (20% new). Ruby hued, it is highly varietal, with youthful, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, a gentle seasoning of oak, and loads of…
Comments Off on Tatty Bogler Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already very approachable, this elegant, medium to full-bodied red was hand-picked at Lowburn and matured for 10 months in French oak. Bright ruby, it is vibrant and sweet-fruited, with ripe cherry and spice flavours, showing very good depth, finely integrated…
Comments Off on Mount Riley Limited Release Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Well worth cellaring, this finely textured red was French oak-aged for nearly a year. Ruby hued, it is smoothly mouthfilling, with moderately concentrated, ripe cherry, spice and nut flavours, fresh acidity and considerable complexity. Best drinking mid-2021+. (From Bannock Brae)….
Comments Off on Diggers Law Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This graceful, delicate pinot noir was estate-grown on the edge of the Kawarau River, hand-picked, and matured in French oak puncheons (20% new). Ruby hued, it is finely scented and sweet-fruited, with delicate plum, spice and nut flavours, showing excellent…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Shingle Beach Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This youthful, fruit-packed red was hand-harvested at the company’s two sites at Bendigo and matured in French oak casks (15% new). Full-coloured, it is mouthfilling, vibrant and supple, with fresh acidity and concentrated, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours. Already highly…
Comments Off on Rocky Point Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still youthful, this highly fragrant red was estate-grown in the Alexandra sub-region and matured in French oak casks (30% new). Bright ruby, it is medium to full-bodied, with concentrated cherry, plum and spice flavours, complex and savoury, and a well-structured…
Comments Off on Judge Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Scented and supple, this estate-grown, Gibbston red was hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak casks (40% new). Ruby hued, it is a refined, vibrantly fruity wine with ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, a hint of herbs,…
Comments Off on Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this fragrant, single-vineyard red was grown at Bannockburn and matured in French oak casks (22% new). Bright ruby, it is mouthfilling and savoury, with strong, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak and good tannin backbone….
Comments Off on Bristol Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
From the oldest vines in Bannockburn, planted in 1991, this ruby hued, velvety red was hand-harvested, matured in French oak casks (20%) new, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. A very gentle wine, it is mouthfilling, sweet-fruited and supple, with youthful,…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Slapjack Block Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of personality, this estate-grown, single block red was hand-picked, matured in French oak casks (20% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Full, bright ruby, it is a generous wine, fragrant, savoury, ripe and complex, with concentrated cherry, plum and…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Jackson’s Block Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Enticingly perfumed, this savoury red was grown at Queensberry and Lowburn, in the Cromwell Basin, and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques (30% new). Bright ruby, it is a very refined, full-bodied wine, with generous cherry, plum, spice…
Comments Off on Maude Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering fine value, this estate-grown red was matured for 11 months in mostly French oak casks (22% new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deep, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with concentrated, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours,…
Comments Off on Maori Point Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Certified organic, this fragrant, savoury, complex red was estate-grown at Lowburn. Matured in French oak casks (20% new), it is mouthfilling, with strong flavours of cherries, plums, spices and nuts, and a moderately firm finish. A very ageworthy wine, it…
Comments Off on Surveyor Thomson Domaine-Thomson Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This powerful red is from a single clone (777), estate-grown at Lowburn. Matured in French oak casks (25% new), it is deep ruby, mouthfilling savoury and well-structured, with dense, ripe, plummy, spicy flavours, finely integrated oak adding complexity, and a…
Comments Off on Domaine-Thomson Rows 1-37 Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Already delicious, this very harmonious red was grown at two Bannockburn sites and matured for a year in French oak casks (18% new). Deep ruby, it is mouthfilling and sweet-fruited, with generous cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing excellent…
Comments Off on Ceres Composition Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Revealing impressive depth, the 2017 vintage (5*) is a 2:1 blend of Bannockburn and Bendigo grapes, matured for 11 months in French oak casks (15% new). Deep ruby, with a fresh, spicy, floral bouquet, it has concentrated, plummy, spicy, nutty…
Comments Off on Bristol Farm Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Offering great value, this Bannockburn red was hand-picked and matured for a year in French oak barriques (28% new). Full-coloured, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with deep, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, refined tannins, and lovely mouthfeel and texture….
Comments Off on Bald Hills 3 Acres Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2017 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Estate-grown and hand-harvested, this bright pink wine has vibrant watermelon, strawberry and spice flavours, a sliver of sweetness and a seductively smooth finish. Full-bodied, yet with a sense of lightness, it’s delicious young. $25 (A, US)
Comments Off on Maori Point Single Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Hard to resist, this bright pink Gibbston wine is invitingly scented. Full-bodied, fresh and dry, it has a lovely array of watermelon, strawberry, peach and spice flavours, showing impressive vibrancy, delicacy and length. $31]
Comments Off on Coal Pit Central Otago Pinot Noir Rosé 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This aromatic, freshly herbaceous wine was hand-harvested from mature vines at Gibbston and tank-fermented. Bright, light lemon/green, it is medium-bodied, with youthful melon and green capsicum-like flavours, punchy and crisp. $27 (UK)
Comments Off on Coal Pit Central Otago Sauvignon Blanc 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Faintly pink, this white wine was made from pinot noir grown at Alexandra. Offering very easy drinking, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong, fresh, peachy, slightly strawberryish and spicy flavours and an off-dry fnish. Certified organic. $30
Comments Off on Judge Rock The Alibi Central Otago Blanc de Noir 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This is a very refreshing chardonnay, reminiscent of Chablis. A single-vineyard wine, grown at Bendigo, it was hand-picked and fermented and matured for 10 months in French oak casks (15% new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is elegant and vibrantly fruity,…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This stylish young wine is well worth cellaring. Estate-grown, hand-harvested and fermented in French oak puncheons (25% new), it has a citrusy, slightly creamy bouquet. Mouthfilling, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong, grapefruit-like flavours, gentle biscuity notes, balanced acidity and…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Riverblock Central Otago Bannockburn Chardonnay 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This creamy-textured wine was fermented and lees-aged for eight months in French oak casks (10% new). Fragrant, with a citrusy, slightly biscuity bouquet, it has good weight, with citrusy, peachy, mealy flavours, showing impressive depth, a subtle seasoning of oak…
Comments Off on Maude Central Otago Chardonnay 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of youthful impact, this single-vineyard wine was hand-harvested at Bendigo. Bright, light lemon/green, it is scented and vibrantly fruity, with very good intensity of ripe, peachy, limey flavours and a crisp, off-dry, lingering finish. Drink now or cellar. $27…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Full of potential, this lively, estate-grown, hand-harvested wine is already delicious. Bright, light lemon/green, it is medium-bodied, with fresh, concentrated, citrusy, appley flavours, showing a distinct touch of complexity, gentle sweetness, appetising acidity and a finely poised, long finish. Best…
Comments Off on Maori Point Single Vineyard Central Otago Riesling 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This richly scented wine has a strong sense of youthful drive. Light lemon/green, it is medium-bodied, with penetrating, yet delicate, citrusy, appley flavours, some peachy notes, appetising acidity and a distinctly off-dry, lasting finish. Already delicious, it’s well worth cellaring…
Comments Off on Bald Hills Last Light Single Vineyard Central Otago Bannockburn Riesling 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Still unfolding, this 3:1 blend of Gibbston and Lowburn grapes was partly (25%) fermented in old French oak barrels. Pale lemon/green, it has strong, pear-like aromas and flavours, peachy and spicy notes, a distinct touch of complexity and a long,…
Comments Off on Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Attractively scented, this regional blend was fermented in a mix of tanks (60%) and seasoned French oak barriques (40%). Mouthfilling and vibrantly fruity, it is full of youthful vigour, with strong, yet delicate, pear, lychee and spice flavours, a distinct…
Comments Off on Maude Central Otago Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Delicious now, this full-bodied pinot gris was hand-picked and made with a small percentage of barrel fermentation. Attractively scented, it is vibrantly fruity, with strong pear, peach and spice flavours, a sliver of sweetness and a finely balanced, lingering finish….
Comments Off on Bald Hills Kirameki Single Vineyard Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
This highly refined wine was hand-harvested and fermented and matured for 10 months in old, neutral French oak puncheons. Currently delicious, it is weighty, with excellent delicacy and depth of peach, pear and lychee flavours, a subtle suggestion of oak…
Comments Off on Terra Sancta Lola’s Block Central Otago Bannockburn Pinot Gris 2018 / 0 View / November 30, 2021
Posted: November 30, 2021
Clearly a top vintage, this Alsace-style wine is a full-bodied, vigorous, off-dry style. Weighty, with strong, vibrant stonefruit flavours, gently spicy notes, fresh acidity and a very harmonious finish, it’s already delicious, but likely to be long-lived. Best drinking mid-2021+….
Comments Off on Tatty Bogler Waitaki Valley North Otago Pinot Gris 2019 / 0 View / November 30, 2021