Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Animated and vibrant, with oodles of floral nuance backed by firm tannins. This gives it suave structure and poise, showcasing layers upon layers of intensity which unfold harmoniously. Extremely evocative of pinot. A captivating rounded and silky style; the palate is broad, savoury and awash with black fruit, with beguiling rose petal and ginger spice notes. The bright acidity and subtle oak give a charming balance to this wine, making it long and satisfying. Plump, voluptuous and generous on the nose with mounds of crunchy red fruit. Nicely clean and fresh with an enchanting palate of sumptuous black plums and alluring rich spices.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Pale to medium ruby coloured, the 2013 Pinot Noir reveals expressive black cherry, mulberry and red currant jelly notes on the nose with hints of tar, black loam, balsamic and dried Provence herbs. Medium-bodied, the palate has elegant styling with gentle savoury and red berry preserves characters framed by a lively backbone and chewy tannins, finishing with earthy nuances.
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.