Category Archives: Red Wine – New Zealand

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

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First they did excellent Sav Blanc and now New Zealand do excellent Point Noir.

With notes on the nose of flora, roasted peppers and cherries with undertones of pepper and coco you get a sense that this is a fine Pinot Noir. Flavours are lighter than the aromas, red fruit and oak come through with a fair bit of acidity. The tannins are smooth and this makes it very enjoyable.

I would have liked to try it with food, chicken or beef but on its own its lovely. The only downside is the £20 price tag per bottle. Its the price you pay for New Zealand Pinot Noir but it will put many people off.

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

Mohua, Pinot Noir 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

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Light red fruit on the aromas and a browning of the colour points to this being a bit over it. 2015 Pinot Noir should have been fine but in reality this should have been drunk by year 2 or 3. There’s a fair bit of cherry, redcurrant, raspberry bit its very light. You get hints of coffee and coco but you have to really think about it.

It got a Commended at the Decanter Wine Wine Awards in 2017, which I would say was right for now but possibly a bronze back in 2017.

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

Clocktower, Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

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New Zealand wine was made on the back of some excellent Sauvignon Blanc, Cloudy Bay and Greywacke to name 2.

Pinot Noir is another excellent wine that New Zealand produces and so far I’ve not had a bad bottle, you do get some poor NZ Sav Blanc now a days. Russian Jack is Majestic wine in house NZ Pinot Noir and at £13 a bottle it’s not a cheap NZ Pinot Noir.

You get a fair amount of red fruit, strawberry, redcurrant, plum, cherry, both on the nose and in the mouth. It’s dry with an earthy undertone but it’s a little light all round. There’s little tannins and it’s quite smooth. At £10 or under this would be great but for 3 or 4 pounds more you can get better. Personal I would say nice, but spend a bit more.

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

Russian Jack, Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

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This was a winner of a Gold Medal at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2017 and a bronze medal winner from the 2018 Decanter World Wine Awards. The 2017 vintage of this got a Gold medal at the 2019 DWWA. The 2014 is better than bronze.

There’s ripe red fruit, cherries, plums with a vanilla and spice undertone. On the palate this wine has supple, soft tannins and a decant balance of dryness, fruit flavours and body. 

The only issue I have with is the £30 price tag. Its very good but your only going be drinking this on special occasions. Thats a real shame as very people will get to try this.

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

Wooing Tree, Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand LP

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

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New Zealand does Pinot Noir as good as the best in the world. There is wonderful red fruit on the nose. It’s silky smooth, elegant and quite light, yet there are deep complex flavours with hints of dark berries with a touch of pepper and spices. Great levels of acidity, tannins excellent length and a perfect finish.

As you get the idea I loved this wine, I’m surprised it only got a silver medal at the IWSC, for me this is so Gold or above. The only downside is the price at over £30 a bottle which would put people off. Just do it, order it today.

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

Matua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014, Central Otago, New Zealand

 

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New Zealand

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We spent the  on an old sailing barge that sailed out of Ipswich. On the way back to the train station we stopped off at the Majestic Ipswich store. They have a new system there where the wines are ordered in style rather than just country, which makes choosing a wine much much easier. Well done to Majestic for doing something that really helps the average customer.

Chris the manager showed us a wine he had opened for a previous customer called the Main Divide, a Pinot Noir from New Zealand. It had aromas of oak and smoke with black fruit. The the flavours were quite rich, black fruit, spice and a smokey undertone which was refreshing for a Pinot Noir. This was not a weak red but had character. At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but it is a cracking wine.

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New

Main Divide, Pinot Noir from New