Six NZ Pinot Noirs

[Bick]

I tried a few Pinot Noirs from different regions of NZ over the summer break, to compare some different regions and sample a few of the icon brands. Here are some notes:

Pegasus Bay 05 This had quite a restrained delicate aroma, but was very varietal with soft red fruit and silky mouthfeel. Medium bodied and quite long. Seemed slightly disjointed however (a touch green edged) on day 1 but much improved on day 2. Perhaps needs a couple of years to be at its best. (Canterbury)

Martinborough Vineyard 04 Garnet, nice aroma of plum and rubarb and oak. Complex and appealing palate, with strawberry and a touch of caramel. Medium to full bodied, with good acid and tannin balance. Better than the Pegasus in my view. (Martinborugh)

Cooper's Creek Reserve 04 This was a nice surprise - not being an iconic wine, I was not expecting too much, as cheaper Pinot often disappoints me, but this was actually quite classy. Lots of oak (50% in new french for a year) gave cedar and cigar box on the nose, though the raspberry and cherry fruit perhaps struggled a bit to match the oak. Full bodied, easy drinking and appealing. Good QPR at approx NZ$30. (Marlborough)

Neudorf Moutere 05 Classy aroma, with oak nicely integrated with fruit. Darker fruit taste than some (blackberry in there as well as the red fruit). Soft mellow tannins. Not a blockbuster in any one area, just a classy balanced wine. Drinking well. (Nelson)

Ata Rangi 06 Deep red, full bodied with a rich, lush aroma of ripe fruit and good use of oak. Complex and balanced, this is clearly a class act - and already drinking well. (Martinborough)

Craggy Range Calvert Vineyard 06 This one interested me as its a new wine from Craggy Range, who are Hawkes bay based, though the fruit is sourced from a good single vineyard on Felton Road. Light ruby, with great clarity, A big, gamey, clove and ripe fruit nose. With cherries, cranberries and a peppery richness, this has lots going on. Tannins are silky and mouthfilling. This is an elegant well made Pinot I think and I'd recommend it. Maybe just a bit green edged in the finish - this will hopefully resolve as its still young. (Central Otago)

[Craig(NZ)]

Ata Rangi 06 Deep red, full bodied with a rich, lush aroma of ripe fruit and good use of oak. Complex and balanced, this is clearly a class act - and already drinking well. (Martinborough)

agree, class act..understated. The Princess diana of pinot.

[Ian S]

Ata Rangi 06 Deep red, full bodied with a rich, lush aroma of ripe fruit and good use of oak. Complex and balanced, this is clearly a class act - and already drinking well. (Martinborough)

agree, class act..understated. The Princess diana of pinot.

Craig
understated - Princess Diana?
Was there another one I wasn't aware of?

[monghead]

This I guess is abit of an aside, but I thought it appropriate to post it here, with further impressions later.

Enjoyed the 2006 Escarpment Pinot yesterday night, and thought it was sensational. Interesting to the last glass. In your opinions, does Ata Rangi make a superior Pinot?

Cheers,

Monghead.

[Craig(NZ)]

Craig
understated - Princess Diana?
Was there another one I wasn't aware of?

youve been reading too many tabloids, we only get the laundered womens magazines

[Ian S]

Craig
understated - Princess Diana?
Was there another one I wasn't aware of?

youve been reading too many tabloids, we only get the laundered womens magazines

That's your choice I s'pose

[Ryan]

This I guess is abit of an aside, but I thought it appropriate to post it here, with further impressions later.

Enjoyed the 2006 Escarpment Pinot yesterday night, and thought it was sensational. Interesting to the last glass. In your opinions, does Ata Rangi make a superior Pinot?

Cheers,

Monghead.

06 Escarpment is too tight at the minute. Have another look in 12-24 months.

[Bick]

Enjoyed the 2006 Escarpment Pinot yesterday night, and thought it was sensational. Interesting to the last glass. In your opinions, does Ata Rangi make a superior Pinot?

I have no direct experience of Escarpment, monghead, so I can't comment personally, except to say that Ata Rangi is perhaps NZ's most iconic pinot, with top class wine produced pretty much every year. FWIW Michael Cooper rates Ata Rangi pinot as a "super classic", while Escarpment pinot rates a silver medal standard year on year, with the 06 their best vintage to date. Ata Rangi is generally rated higher as the vines are that much older (planted 1980 versus late 90's), and have stood the test of time vintage to vintage. I'll have to give the escarpment a go though from what you've said.

[river]

I would agree it's still early days for Escarpment have only tried the 04 and 05 both were good but to my tastes would not say enjoyable young.

Personally prefer Ata Rangi but that's my opinion and if you enjoyed the wine then buy some more I would give it at least a few years to hit it's stride though.

[Craig(NZ)]

escarpement is slightly more chunky in structure and more chalky in texture. Ata Rangi to me seems a little more refined with a bit more plushness to it.

escarpement looks like perhaps a style to benefit from cellaring and perhaps way too early to make definitive ranking decisions

its hard to go past the 06 ata rangi though, all class.

[Bick]

Ata Rangi aside, you might want to give the Craggy Range Calvert Vineyard a go though Craig, if you've not had it yet - I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I was pretty impressed.