Which wines impressed the judges?

That New Zealand produces some top-flight pinot noir is beyond doubt, but the top-ranked wines in the latest Cuisine tasting prove that it’s a talent spread far across the land, from Central Otago to Marlborough to the Wairarapa. Heading the list is Vavasour Pinot Noir 2020

from Marlborough’s Awatere Valley, described as a “youthful pinot [that] abounds with pungent rich spice, cherries and raspberries on the nose.” Waiheke’s Obsidian vineyard took both first and second places in the ‘other reds’ category, with their Obsidian Waiheke Island Reserve Montepulciano 2019 and Obsidian Waiheke Island Montepulciano 2019 respectively. The judges praised the “youthful, lifted freshness of the wine amid the deep, dark and brooding profile” of the winning wine. For full results and tasting notes go to page 132.