Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2009

Palliser Estate runs their vineyard utilising environmentally friendly principles.  What does that really mean? They have introduced sheep and livestock as their weed control team, thus reducing the use of diesel, electricity and chemical sprays. Furthermore they only use recyclable material for packaging while using e-mails for distribution of material to mailing list customers. I think this is the way all wineries should go as it reduces the impact on the environment.  From a marketing perspective it also increases the quality of the story that the winery can tell about its product.

Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2009

My god this is light on in the flavour department.  It almost tastes like strawberries and cream on a warm summers day in England around Wimbledon time.  There is a hit of savoury cherry but I had to go looking for it.  What this does provide is a lovely long length of light flavours and a touch of tannin that holds my interest. What was most surprising was the alcohol level and its absence of impact on the flavours.   I was thinking this was 13.5 and it was actually 14.5%. Do I really love this wine? No but it does get me coming back for seconds.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $42
Rated: 86
Drink: Now - 2016
Importer: Negociants

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2010

The 2010 growing season started off very slowly with the lowest average temperature since 1992.  What followed was below average fruit set, average rainfall and mild temperatures.  Many wine-makers would have struggled to ripen Pinot was in not for the fine warm days in mid-April that allowed the bunches to be picked at lower baume but ripe flavours before the return of the cold.

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2010

This is your typical Martinborough Pinot with its bright sophisticated sour cherry, spice and dry summer twigs.  These flavour effortlessly flow over a spine of buoyant tannins, ending with a nudge of bitterness that is both appealing and refreshing. Whilst this wine provides breadth and depth of flavour it doesn't reach the heights of the 06 or 08 versions.  Have I come to expect greatness from every vintage of Ata Rangi? Yes so I would happily stash some of this away as everything is beautifully poised with a savoury core of Pinot Noir goodness.

Alcohol: 13.8%

Price: $60

Rated: 90

Drink: 2015 - 2022
Importer: Negociants 

Escarpment Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006

One of my mates can't understand why I collect New Zealand Pinots.  He says I should support the locals and not worry about the producers from across the thin sea line.  One of the main reasons for me to collect the Kiwi wines is you get a whole lot of Pinot for not much money when you compare them to a lot of the Aussie counterparts. This wine is case in point.  Where the Aussie versions struggle to age well, this wine still needs a few more years to hit its peak.

Escarpment Vineyards Pinot Noir 2006

The first thing I notice in this wine is the amount of twigs that they have crammed into this bottle.  It almost smells like a forest that has been freshly cut down and the rain has just started to pour down onto the warm earth.  If you added in a handful of cranberries, a few cherry pips and some spice you have this wine bang on.  In fact this wine is a cornucopious of flavours and silken textures wrapped around lovely acidity and lively tannins.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $40
Rated: 92+
Drink: 2014 - 2020

 

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006 & 2008

Martinborough makes what I consider some of the best value Pinot going around and Ata Rangi is the king of the land in these parts.

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006

There is a huge amount to like packed into this wine.  Actually there is nothing not to like, except that you will have to wait longer for the wine to fully reveal itself. The palate is extremely long with flavours of sour cranberries, satsuma plum, Asian spice and dried clay perched nicely on a wall of tannins.  The wine is flush with life and length, that hasn't really moved since it was released. This will score higher given time to relax and open up.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $70

Rated: 94 +

Drink: give it another 4 years then go for your life

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2008

After the 06 this didn't have the power to match.  Everything was there but with a little more plum and cherry action  than the older version.  God if I could only afford to drink this all the time, I would be in heaven.

Alcohol: 13.5%

Price: $60

Rated: 93 +

Drink: 2014 - 2025

Dry River Chardonnay 2009

Dry River was the first cult winery from New Zealand that I heard about.  Now a few years on, I get to taste what all the fuss is about.  Do I like them? Yes. Are they drink now wines? No. 

Dry River Chardonnay 2009

Watch out people because the message from this wine booms out of the glass.  I could smell creamy nuts from across the room it was so big.  The palate is another story as it is a little more reserved with a textural component coming into play that I found mesmerizing.  Dry River has a reputation for its ability to age very gracefully and upon tasting this, I can see why.  Even though I could easily drink this now the unreserved power of the fruit has not yet filled out so I would recommend holding off for a while before opening this one. The great length of the palate and eloquent flavours point to a mighty wine to come.

Alcohol: 13%
Price: $70
Rated: 92++
Drink:  2015 - 2020
Importer: Negociants