Tarras Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Tarras Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

  08:24    Stu.

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Dark cherry, rose petal, plum - almost plum sauce like in presentation.

It's a single vineyard Pinot from Central Otago, in New Zealand's South Island.

Firmer in style, typical of the region - with is dry environment. Plush, velvet like tannins - with a firmer backstop of flavour. Spiced, touch of dry leaf litter - lovely expression of CO Pinot Noir. 93

Tasted on: Saturday 11th May
Source: Sample
Price: $60
Alcohol: 14%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://tarrasvineyards.com/

Sample courtesy of: https://www.singlevineyards.com/

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Felton Road Cornish Point Pinot Noir 2008

Felton Road Cornish Point Pinot Noir 2008

  09:30    Stu.

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Smokey, meaty, bit of pan juice; savoury.

2012 bottle image

Silken, medium bodied, with this incredible depth of flavour. Still showing some black cherry-plum fruit character, but it's more about savoury depth - a little char even perhaps. 

Effortless, sublime, length and some. 93 

Tasted on: Tuesday 19th January: a fruit to root day
Source: Own cellar
Price: $75 (ish)
Alcohol: ?
Closure: Screwcap
Website: https://www.feltonroad.com/

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Charteris Wines Hunt Vineyard Riesling 2013

Charteris Wines Hunt Vineyard Riesling 2013

  09:37    Stu.

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PJ Charteris, ex-Brokenwood winemaker, still of the Hunter Valley except when he's popping over the 'dutch' to make exceptional wines such as this.

Lovely aromatics: florals, citrus and zest - suggestive of a little chalkiness. Light, loose and open - zesty, lemon with a hint of apple.

A little retained sweetness provides inherent balance against the natural acidity, the perfect foil for the chilli prawns I smashed down with it. Excellent focus and shape on the finish. Prima! 93

Tasted on: Friday 26th September, a Root transitioning to Flower day
Source: Retail, Craft Red Hill
Price: $28
Alcohol: 11.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://charteriswines.com/

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Nanny Goat Vineyard Super Nanny Pinot Noir 2013

Nanny Goat Vineyard Super Nanny Pinot Noir 2013

  12:49    Stu.

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Plenty of forward black fruit on offer here - if that's your 'thing' you'll love this. That fruit is supplemented with a touch of spice and the palate sees more of the same with the addition of a fair rub of tannin.

It's a fair mouthful of flavour and the aroma and palate lead-in give the indication of what to expect from the wine. Has a good carry of flavour. It's big, but for me seems a little unbalanced. 90

Tasted on: Monday 9th June, a Root to Flower day
Source: Sample
Price: $45 ish
Alcohol: 14.2%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.nannygoatvineyard.co.nz/

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Nanny Goat Chardonnay 2012

Nanny Goat Chardonnay 2012

  06:18    Stu.

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Tasted in amongst a bracket of other whites. Fairly rapid tasting - tasting note as written. 

Good aromatic introduction of creamy oak over stonefruit kernels, almond skins flecked with a little citrus. 

The palate is quite full, textural width gained from time on lees. Retains good acidity but I'd like to see some of that channelled into more preceise length - a stlyistic preference. Still, a good Chardonnay - one I went back to for a second glass post-tasting. 90

Tasted on: Sunday 2nd March, a Flower transitioning to Leaf day
Source: Sample
Price: $30
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.nannygoatvineyard.co.nz/

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Nanny Goat Syrah 2012

Nanny Goat Syrah 2012

  12:47    Stu.

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Syrah from Central Otago is an interesting proposition. Generally a region considered cool, needs judicious site selection to work.

Black fruited, a little fruits of the forest; violets with a beefy  meaty hint. Notes of spicy oak, vanilla.

White pepper, fairly open and flacid, squarely medium bodied. Juicy, and yet again that meatiness comes through the middle too. Smooth and creamy with hints of chocolate. The parts work together to create an attractive drinking proposition. 88

Tasted on: Friday 4th October, a Root Day 
Source: Sample
Price: $?
Alcohol: 13.5%
Closure: Screwcap
Website: http://www.nannygoatvineyard.co.nz/

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Two Sisters Pinot Noir 2006

Two Sisters Pinot Noir 2006

  08:35    Stu.

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Opened this for the Rugby World Cup Final - it was the only Kiwi wine in the house - and it proved rather an apt  metaphor for the All Blacks that night.

Whilst, ultimately, the wine delivered, it lacked the finesse and fluidity of some of its peers. Solid, sturdy - but not particularly inspiring.  As I say, a bit like the All Blacks in that final.

Jooby, juicy aromas on the nose.  Fairly big and extracted.  Medium bodied, lacks depth.  The finish showing warmth and spice.  Don't get me wrong, it was perfectly drinkable - and do just that, drink rather than pontificate and muse. 

Source: Retail, Champion Liquor

Price: $30 RRP

Alcohol: 14%

Closure: Screwcap

Website: www.twosisters.co.nz

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Rabbit Ranch 2008 Pinot Noir

Rabbit Ranch 2008 Pinot Noir

  11:40    Stu.

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I believe this wine has the dubious honour of being the first non-Australian wine posted up on the site.  I'm not waging my own one-man "All for One Wine" campaign, it is more a reflection on my budget and the fact that in the main buy my own wines.

Typical Central Otago darker style Pinot Noir, think plum coloured as opposed to the raspberry tinged hues of Pinot Noir.  But there the similarity ends for me.  It is actually lighter in style than colour would depict, very much drink now.  Typical red cherry and a smidge of spice on entry, very gentle, fruit driven.  No real length to speak of, minimal tannin.  Very much a drinker and works well with food.

Source: Retail (http://www.chalkncheese.com.au/)

Price: $34.99 RRP, $20 on special.

Closure: Screwcap

Website: http://www.rabbitranch.co.nz/

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