TNS: Limited NZ and Australia Pinot Noir Tasting.

[prester john]

I attended this tasting over the weekend and must confess to not being a great fan of pinot. Principally, I don't understand the subtleties which others seek to associate with this variety, or perhaps I just haven't drunk enough fine burgundy.

Therefore, with that caveat in mind, these are my thoughts of the wines which were tasted in the following order:

1. 2007 Helens Hill Ingram Rd Yarra Valley ($15.00) – Good
nose, but watery on the palate. This is as good as it's going to
be. Certainly drinkable, but so is cordial. Nevertheless, as
someone remarked, 'it's pretty good for the price'. Quite so.
83 points.
2. 2006 Yering Station Yarra Valley ($22.00) – Classic pinot on the nose and more body than the wine above, but a strange, unsubtle, unpleasant, bitter finish. 85 points.
3. 2007 Coldstream Hills Yarra Valley ($29.00) – A marked improvement. Subtle fruity taste, with a slightly bitter finish. I would give this a few more years with improvement, but certainly not more than 5 years. 88 points.
4. 2005 Clemens Hill Tasmania ($37.00) – This is more like it. Good fruit and structure. This could go another 5 years with improvement without too much trouble. 90 points.
5. 2006 Josef Chromy Tasmania ($26.00) – I don't think this will improve too much more, but it contains good fruit without a great backbone. 89 points.
6. 2006 Carrick Central Otago ($50.00) – I put this on a par with no. 5, above, which makes it quite good, but at double the price it carries a poor QPR. 89 points.
7. 2007 Ashton Hills Adelaide Hills ($35.00) – I liked it. It has good fruit and balances the acidity well. I can see this improving beyond the next 5 years without much trouble and improving nicely. 92 points.
8. 2007 Stefano Lubiana Primavera Tasmania ($28.00) – Notwithstanding the price, I expected a little more from this. It lacks fruit action and is too acidic. OK at best. 87 points.
9. 2006 Palliser Pencarrow Martinborough ($20.00)- Mute on the nose, watery and without structure. Average at best, but the price is a factor here again. I treated this wine as another case of paying peanuts and getting monkeys. 83 points.
10. 2007 Momo Marlborough ($27.00)- Lacklustre on the nose and palate, but better than no. 9, above. 85 points.
11. 2007 Main Divide Marlborough ($28.00) – A pleasant surprise. This was fruity with good acidity and a decent finish. One of the better wines of the tasting. 90 points.
12. 2007 Opawa Marlborough ($27.00)- Good fruit and good balance. I thought this was as good as no. 11, above. 90 points.
13. 2006 Martinborough Vineyards Te Tera ($37.00)- Nicely balanced. Slightly spirity but a long finish. 91 points.
14. 2006 Quartz Reef Central Otago ($50.00)- The acidity in this overwhelmed the fruit at this point in time. This may subside with time, but right now this was not as good as nos. 12 & 13, above. I'll give it 89 points right now by virtue of the rather large retail price.
15. 2006 Van Asch Central Otago ($44.00)- For the price, I found this rather weak and lacking structure. It may go another year or two, but I can't see it making too much progress. 89 points.
16. 2006 Seresin Raupo Creek Marlborough ($50.00)- This had a great nose, but was somewhat disappointing on the palate. It has the beginnings of greatness but disappointed on the finish. 90 points.
17. 2006 Seresin Rachel Marlborough ($55.00)- Better than no. 16, above, with a better finish. Very good. 92 points.
18. 2007 Ata Rangi Crimson Martinborough ($36.00)- My only note here was to say that this was a little watery. From memory I'll give it 88 points.

As much as I don't like to admit it, I felt that in this line-up the New Zealand contingent showed a lot better than the Australian wines.

Please also excuse the dearth of detail in my notes. I attended this tasting more out of curiosity than genuine interest in this variety. If I learned nothing else, it was that I probably need to drink more pinot and, more importantly, more finer pinot.

Best,

PJ.

[Bick]

Thanks for the notes - I find these comparison tastings quite interesting to read. I think the Quartz Reef 06 should improve - it looks good usually after a few years and tends to have decent structure. The Main Divide is definately a good value pinot from NZ. I liked your comment "Certainly drinkable, but so is cordial." on the cheapy - the very definition of damning with faint praise!