Lowburn Ferry Home Block Pinot Noir 2017 (Central Otago) - 8 $70 ★★★★★
Despite first planting grapes as recently as 2000, Roger and Jean Gibson of Lowburn Ferry have rapidly built a reputation for producing high-quality pinot noir. Their renowned homeblock is 2.7 hectares of sheltered terraces beneath the Pisa Range in Cromwell, Central Otago, planted with a variety of Burgundian clones. Roger – a soil scientist – believes that the soil is the unique and special element that sets this vineyard apart. Previously the land had been farmed for 150 years and the build up of organic material in the soil, combined with some pedogenic lime scattered throughout the vineyard, ensures this is a special place to grow grapes.
A wet, warm spring in 2017 secured a fast start to the growing season and despite a cooler and wetter December and January at the critical time of fruit set, a dry, even February helped somewhat to redress the balance. Dry conditions over harvest ensured that the picking of the grapes was done without weather pressure, therefore the grapes had time to achieve the optimum ripeness required and could be hand harvested with ease.
The resulting wine is the top pinot noir as selected by our panel of experts. It has a deep colour with both red and dark fruit aromas presenting themselves alongside thyme and spice proudly on the nose. Then, upon the palate you encounter long, sensuous, juicy yet relaxed fruit flavours with good chalky tannins and spice, completing with a long, almost sweet, finish. A polished and well-crafted style of pinot noir, agreed by all to be a very smart example indeed.
2 / Neck of the Woods Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 ★★★★★ - 5 $37
Immediately jumping out of the glass with a seductive nose of crushed red berries and dark plum notes underlying complex layers of aromas. A very impressive drive on the palate. A seductive sweet and sour sinew that provides beautiful flavours and impressive length while still bright and youthful.
3 / Maude Mohawk Hill Pinot Noir 2017 (Central Otago) ★★★★★ - 8 $45
Smoky, supple, savoury and seductive. A wonderful pinot noir to take time with and engage in the heady aromas. Showing superb length and poise with an intriguing Campari/negroni-like character that gives the wine savoury notes, great length and remarkable poise.
4 / Mud House Single Vineyard Claim 431 Pinot Noir 2017 (Central Otago) ★★★★★ - 5 $33
Elegant red fruits and just a touch of licorice provide a solid platform for this smart wine. Restrained dark fruits hover in the background then unleash on the palate combined with ripe, red berry fruit that provides juicy, musky yet solid tannin and remarkable structure.
5 / Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Pinot Noir 2015 (Marlborough) ★★★★★ - 3 $60
A lovely example of lively, succulent fruit with some bottle development delivering dense, berry-fruit notes. A well-choreographed palate delivers style and plenty of plush fruit with nicely integrated and balanced spicy oak and gentle relaxed tannins.
6 / Eight Ranges Pinot Noir 2018 (Central Otago) 2018 ★★★★★ - 5 $45
Brilliantly bright red fruit, alluring with a sweet yet brooding perfume. Nose provides a wonderful cacophony of aromas in balance with the palate of soft, elegant, succulent and fleshy red fruits. This wine has a lovely fine tannin structure that provides seemingly everlasting length.
7 / Peregrine Pinot Noir 2017 (Central Otago) ★★★★ - 10 $45
Blueberries and red fruits combined with floral potpourri spice are all woven into a potent perfume on the nose. A succulent, juicy yet mellow and refined palate combines with fine powdery tannins providing a decisive and decadent drinking experience.
8 / Nautilus Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2016 (Marlborough) ★★★★ - 5 $44
A precisely crafted pinot noir with a bright red vibrancy and complex, earthy aromas on the nose. Cherries and raspberries abound on the palate with a beautiful structural texture and fine tannins.
9 / Gibbston Highgate Estate Soultaker Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018
★★★★ - 4 $25
Bright red fruits, menthol spice and dark cherry notes, thyme and a touch of fine oak nuance on the nose. Palate delivers vibrant green herbal spices and crunchy, sweet, ripe red fruits.
10 / Lawson’s Dry Hills Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 (Marlborough)
★★★★ - 5 $30
A curious combination of wild bramble and red raspberry notes with a hint of lavender on the nose. Yet the palate delivery is soft and velvety with freshness promoting the ripe, herbal flavour notes combined with spice and silky red fruits.
Freeland Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 ★★★★ - 4 $27
Aromas of crushed cherries and raspberries leading in dark Doris plum providing a platform for a more robust upfront style of pinot noir – plush and rich with a good backbone of tannin and stylish presence.
Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2018 (Central Otago) ★★★★ - 10 $40
A more complex style with raspberries and wild cherries, bramble, white blossom and a hint of herbaceousness. This wine has density, fruit concentration and presence on the palate through oak spice and a luscious weaving of wild fruits providing persistence and length.