Winemaker Notes
Anyway you look at it, this Pinot Noir is the pinnacle of what the team at Mt. Beautiful is all about. Subtlety is the secret inside this wine. It begins with sophisticated fragrances of black cherries and violets while showcasing an elegantly expressive palate of ripe bramble fruit and subtle tannins. As the personal favorite of Mt. Beautiful's owner David Teece, it’s incredibly important for this Pinot Noir to showcase the best aspects of the varietal, therefore it is grown in the highest elevation in the vineyard.
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Cracking value here, with vibrant cherry and strawberry characters on a full-bodied, creamy palate, alongside pinpoint balance of acidity and alcohol. It's firm and fresh, with gentle oak spicing and supple tannins from 10 months in new and used barrels. Drinking Window 2019 - 2022
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Wine Enthusiast
This North Canterbury Pinot neatly demonstrates how a little extra time in bottle can yield beautiful results. Notes of damp earth, meat, florals and savory herbal tonic nuances add complexity to the black-cherry and wild-strawberry fruit. While the oak shows a touch on the palate, it’s fairly well balanced by plump fruit and savory, herb-flecked tannins. This is a singular Pinot that expresses a sense of place. Drink now through 2027.
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Wine Spectator
Pretty, featuring floral and mineral accents to the plump plum and cherry flavors at the core, with aromatic highlights of dried lavender and orange zest. Vibrant and juicy on the finish. Drink now through 2028.
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
On the central eastern coast of the South Island, Canterbury includes a collection of small and varied subregions. The region is cool and dry with low rainfall and light, infertile soils. Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir are well-suited here, with Pinot Gris coming in third place.