Tasting Note No.17
Colour very dark purple, nearing on black. Lot's of black cherry on the nose and gamey, leathery scents revealing themselves along with red berries mixing with a whiff of vanilla. The palate reveals a concentrated wine with rich, sweet fruit flavours, with black cherry nominating. Well handled toasty oak and an excellent and flavourful, long finish. There is a lot of bitterness right now towards the finish, once again I suspect bottle shock as the cause, it only arrived in Australia recently. This is a very good wine that needs 6 months to settle down. A structured Pinot, it will peak in 2006. It is actually a good deal at AU $28. I bought the 2001 for my cellar earlier this year, also a nice drop but this new release is more serious and will live longer. I mention it here, the 2001 Reserve had a touch too much oak for my liking but winemaker Peter Caldwell and wife Mayi are getting better all the time with their wines. Not reviewed here, the 2002 Chardonnay appeared to be a lighter, drink now style wine with tasty flavours, falling a little short of being very good but still, nice drinking and decent at AU $25.
2002 CARRICK Pinot Noir
This wine is from Bannockburn, Central Otago. The label features the 'Carrick Bend knot' so you can't miss it. The vineyards were first planted in 1994, the winemaker is Steve Davies.
Colour very, very dark, nearing on black. On the nose, spicy black cherries and plum. Reserved right now. The palate is POWERFUL and concentrated, not much elegance or charm but plenty of good oak, extract and fruit. Needs an other year to soften, by then, the bitter finish will go away. The wine spent 11 months in French oak,30% new. It was bottled in April and it needs time to show it's best. Will peak in 2008. Cost AU $55 for the patient.
2002 BLACK ESTATE Pinot Noir
It was the first time I tasted a wine from Black Estate located in NZ's Waipara region. This is a fairly interesting Pinot made by winemaker Mark Rattray. The vines were first planted in 1993 and good French oak was used for maturation.
Colour inky purple, very dark. The nose is reserved with some spicy plum and vanilla. Very fresh cherry fruit on the palate with noticable bitterness and grainy oak. Quite full bodied. I found it hard to judge this one now but I have the feeling that in 3 years time it'll turn into a very good wine. Cost AU $55 but at this price I was not inspired to rush off my feet to buy. Those who want to get some, should know that it is pretty limited and hard to find in Australia.
Tasted:November 2003.