Keep it real

Great pinot noir is moody and mysterious, versatile, magical and alluring — and will give you the power to not click on all those soul-sapping ads on Facebook

COAL PIT CENTRAL OTAGO ROSÉ 2017 $26.95

With its enticing aromas of candyfloss, creaming soda and Eton mess pudding, this shiny new pinot noir-based rosé also bursts with redcurrant, pink peppercorn and lipsmacking acidity. It’s a very complete wine, saturated with flavour while being delicate and stylish to the “nth” degree. Sip with: pear and prosciutto salad. coalpitwine.com

BIRD WINES BIG BARREL MARLBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2015 $29.95

Steve Bird employs the “Vernou roll” method to make this wine. In this process, he uses old 900L barrels for fermentation and maturation. Gently rolling the barrels regularly to allow greater integration of the oak flavours and the grippy, textural components. Red rose, black cherry, smoke and a deeply succulent texture makes this one you won’t forget in a hurry. Sip with: roast tamarind lamb. For stockists, email enquiries@birdwines.com

ARCHANGEL CENTRAL OTAGO PINOT NOIR 2013 $35

There’s a word that immediately springs to mind when you sip this wine and that’s “whoompha!” Bold, dark berries, clouds of cocoa and cherry-soaked layers of flavour, this is a pinot noir that’ll have you howling at the moon. Solid, furry tannins dial the chew-factor up to 15 and winemaker Pete Bartle has really made something to shout about here. Sip with: larb ped (spicy duck and mint salad). archangelwines.co.nz YVONNE LORKIN IS CO-FOUNDER AND CHIEF TASTING OFFICER OF WINEFRIEND.CO.NZ AND A WINE WRITERS OF NZ MEMBER.