New Zealand Pinot Noir 2013: Expert’s Choice

Heady, spicy and rich with black cherries and fruit cake; generous but not flashy – no hard edges and consummate balance. Best cellared despite immediate charms.

Aromatic black cherry fruit with spice and teasing sage and thyme undertones, some spice too; quite intense fruit – summer pudding – with great clarity, marked bite of acidity and fine tannins. Still youthful and not quite charming (yet). One to watch and keep.

Seductive Pinot nose, yet not archetypal Kiwi lushness. Opens up gradually, showing savoury complexity; finely poised palate, with layers of red fruit and the merest hint of herbaceousness; lovely acidity, fine tannins. Quite forward, yet promises much more.

<p>Hedonistic Pinot nose: layers of floral spice, lovely, quite ripe fruit, something herbal and savoury, too; supple, with dark fruit flavours to the fore. Will reward cellaring.</p>

<p>Subdued, youthful, darkly fruity, with savoury and spice undertones; structure and bite; promises to be an excellent expression of the bigger, riper style.</p>

Subtle, yet complex nose of dried herbs, red and black fruit and cedar spice; silky palate with structure and fruit in balance. Rather good in an unflashy way.

Savoury aromas, autumnal hedgerows; in the mouth, vibrant red fruit, not heavy but pure, with refreshing bite of acidity and silky tannins. Drink now, or will improve.

<p>Nose of spiced black cherries and raspberries, with subtle dried herbs; fairly full and rich in the mouth, in the riper style but with fresh acidity and discreet oak.</p>

Bursting with black cherry, baked tamarillo, vanilla and spice aromas; sweetly fruity and quite substantial on the palate, with firm grip and juicy acidity. Will improve.

Discreet aromas of black stone fruit, dried herbs and sweet spice; palate is soft, with fresh acidity and firm, fine tannins. Smartly crafted but needs time to come together.

Ripe aromas of dark cherries and summer berries, interwoven with smoky oak; tannins more or less integrated. Drink soon.

<p>An elusive nose, not overtly fruity, with subtle red Pinot fruit aromas, spice and subtle &lsquo;forest floor&rsquo; earthiness. Understated, supple though not lush, with some firmness, suggesting it will need a year or more to open up.</p>

Restrained red fruit with subtle savoury and spicy nuances; firm bite of acidity balances soft tannins. Appealing tartness.

<p>With aeration there is attractive, quite ripe red fruit, while the palate offers raspberry confit; medium weight, refreshing acidity, fine tannins and a hint of oak.</p>

Red and black fruit with emerging development (cedar, herbs, sous bois, spice) and a distinct herbal note; oak and tar a little evident in the mouth, with midweight fruit and some length. Good in an unflashy style.

Straight-up, appealing fruit; soft, fruity summer pudding flavour with subtle spice, nice freshness and easy tannins.

<p>Savoury, with tell-tale Awatere compost/leafy notes and intensely fruity, with a tarry oak undertone. Easy appeal, will suit early to medium-term drinking.</p>

Bright red fruit, with subtle herbal and earthy undertones, along with exotic ‘sweet’ spice. Fleshy and fruity mouthful, with modest ambition and enough bite and structure to make an early drinking, refreshing wine.