2010 Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point- New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (8/31/2014)
Under screw cap. Impenetrable red/black colour. A plush signature Central Otago pinot noir nose of blackberries, dark cherries, bramble and Damson plums, with a hint of violets. Very pure. A succulent and juicy entry to the palate with those black berry flavours to the fore, with black clove and a touch of espresso. Ultra-fine grained, silky tannins. A very modern, New World expression with some apparent fruit sweetness. It will drink in this style for 10+ years easily, I would think. (91 pts.)
Schubert Pinot Noir “Block B” 2011 (Martinborough)
Quite a dense color though more red than black cf many NZ PNs. Interesting mixture of “styles” this brings to mind on the nose, with a germanic red-fruited character but also smokey bbq meats. Texture is good, quite velvety. There’s plenty of ripe fruit but it “feels” lighter and redder than it is, a funny contrast that I struggle to put into words but find quite charming. Less savoury than the nose, sweet licorice coming in at the back. Finishes a bit “normal” and sweet after suggesting more promise on the nose. This could be fun to watch evolve. 88+
There are lots of great NZ Pinots available and FR is among them and likely the most consistent. In general, the quality has dramatically improved over the last 3-4 years for all, due to a run of great vintages and more experience. To reference earlier vintages (before 2010) is irrelevant if you are thinking current quality.
I picked up this yesterday, Mud House Claim 431 Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013… Yes I know it’s a little on the young side. This wine, from the Bendigo district of Centeral Otago, has a very dark colour for a Pinot, deep ruby edging towards black at the centre. The nose is showing a lot of spicy, toasty oak and and plenty of darker skinned ripe fruit, plum, dark cherry and fresher berry aromas. The fruit at this stage is lush, the tannins fine grained and buried by that fruit for now. Their are additional complexities of dried herbs and blackberries with enought acidity to keep the wine in balance. Nice wine still very primary and youthful it really needs some time in the cellar. 91
I was just about to post this Pinot TN, when I read Wayne’s note above. We could almost be describing the same wine. I guess that’s called Central Otago signature …
2012 Tiki Pinot Noir Koro- New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (11/7/2014)
I bought this wine because my mate, local wine critic, Raymond Chan, rated it highly (18/20) and because it was reasonably priced. Tiki Koro is Tiki’s Central Otago reserve pinot noir. There are two variations in 2012. This one is labelled ‘Wanaka’, from Wanaka fruit. Under screwcap. Deep primary purple red. A lush and luxurious nose of dark cherry, blackberry, liquorice, with some vanilla oak notes and a hint of moccacino. A very sweet entry to the palate, dense, polished and plush, very modern, with typical Central Otago flavours of dark cherries, dark plums and blackberries, with dark chocolate and some rhubarb. The 15% whole bunch gives a herby element to the flavour profile I didn’t get on the nose. There is also spicy oak on the palate. The tannins are sleek and ultra-fine grained and there is some acidity present to give some vibrancy. The 14.5% alcohol does not seem out of proportion. A forward wine, I would not expect this to improve much, and would recommend drinking it in the next five years. Good QPR at NZ$35, well made, but not really my style. (89 pts.)
I popped a 2009 Pyramid Valley Angel Flower last night. It had the usual cloudiness in the glass, but the nose was just incredibly perfumed with flowers and red fruit. Beautiful. Palate was fresh, minerally, more red fruit with a bit of earth. Really like these wines, but I can see how they’re not everyone’s cup of tea.
Has anyone tasted FR range from 2013? Just being offered here in very VERY limited qualities and are very expensive. $90+ for the Calvert & $115+ for the Blocks.
A friend picked up a Jero of the Block 3.
Chris, I’d recommend buy, particulary the Block wines, if you can live with the prices. 2013 is overall an excellent vintage.
The Block 5 is just being released here and I’ve not tried a 2013 Block 3 in bottle yet. I tried both in barrel, preferring the Block 3 as I typically do, but thinking both were very good.
Your prices look high, the NZ prices are much lower.
2012 Doctors Flat Pinot Noir Doctors Flat Vineyard- New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn (12/21/2014)
I’ve had this wine twice recently. The first time was blind in a group and the second with dinner last night. Under screwcap. Deep colour. A lovely bouquet, possibly Burgundian I thought (but the palate screamed Central Otago). A nose of dark cherries, blackberries, bramble, damp earth and underbrush, with a little understated spice. Also dark mushrooms and dried mixed herbs. A sort of Central Otago take on Morey St Denis. A relatively fruity, sweet entry to the palate. Ripe and rich. The mid palate is stuffed with flavours - blackberries, dark cherries, damp earth, liquorice, savoury mushrooms and a gamey, feral element - with quite a lot of tannin for the fruit weight. One of the winemakers suggested (tasting blind) some greenness, but I saw this more as pleasant herbiness. Excellent length, finishing dusty and dry. The wine will cellar 10 years easily. A very promising label to watch. Only 930 cases made. (90 pts.)
No such thing as the wrong part of France Jon, all sounds good …
Here’s a good NZ PN should be less than US30, if you can find it …
2013 Greystone / Grey’s Peak Pinot Noir- New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara (12/30/2014)
Already a multi-award winner in NZ. Under screwcap. Deep colour. An attractive nose of blackberries, black currants, dark cherries, dried herbs, with a suggestion of chalk and wet limestone. Some fruit sweetness on entry. On the palate, blackberries and bramble and also red berry fruit: cranberry, red currants and mulberries. Some pleasing savoury notes on the mid and back palate. Seamless acidity and smooth tannins. A very well balanced package. Moderately long, finishing on some minerality. From four clones in five different blocks on a hillside estate in Omihi, Waipara. Planted at 80-140 meters above sea level on predominantly calcareous clay soils, along with sand stone and grey lime-stone. Fully de-stemmed, 30% new French oak. (90 pts.)
Last night we had my last remaining bottle of Neudorf Pinot noir, a “Home Block” from 2000.
Lovely wine, rich with super-silky tannins and very enjoyable but perhaps lacking the finesse of some of the others mentioned above. Had a noticeable sweetness that we just don’t see in French wines as a whole and Burgundy in particular.
I’ve not heard of Greystone. Is it made from the old Danny Schuster vineyards? He made some great wines.
I like Neudorf’s Pinot Noirs, particularly the Moutere and Home Blocks. However, I prefer their Moutere Chardonnay.
Greystone is only about 8kms along the road from old Danny Schuster vineyards, so you’re in the right area. The Omihi Hills Winery now owns those vineyards. Their wines are widely for sale but I’ve not had one.
Danny was a real pioneer for NZ pinot noir. He produced some of the best early NZ Pinot Noir. His video interview on Vaynerchuk’s Wine Library TV is worth seeking out.
You must be running out of NZ Pinot in France or do you come back to replenish your stocks?
Cheers, Howard
Edit: I only read your website now (nice website, BTW), so obviously, having worked there, you know a lot more than me about Neudorf!
2009 Felton Road Pinot Noir Cornish Point- New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago (1/12/2015)
Wow, this is a great Central Otago Pinot Noir, absolutely delicious! Intoxicating bouquet of spices, mixed herbs, blackberries and other dark fruit, earth and brambly underbrush. Balanced and poised on palate, beautiful, fully ripe tannins, seamlessly integrated. Good fruit weight, vibrancy and power. Bannockburn signature flavour profile of dark cherries, bramble, dark spices, cloves and dates. Excellent length, the wine finishes on minerality. Perhaps the best non-Block Felton Road I’ve ever had. On the same level as those Block wines, which is to say, in my opinion, at about the top level for NZ pinot noir. I’d give this wine a couple more years and drink in five, but I don’t know how long lived it could be ultimately (92+). Under screwcap. (92 pts.)
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