Aurora Creek, Rock Ferry, Pinot Noir, 2021, Marlborough, New Zealand
Aurora Creek, Pinot Noir from Marlborough, New Zealand is good example of where New Zealand Pinot Noir is at the moment. Dry with light tannins, flavours of cherry, redcurrant with a little oak and earthy note poking through. It has good length but it’s £22 a bottle which for me is far to expensive.
Creation, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, 2020, South Africa
I’ve had Creation, Pinot Noir, from previous vintages before and remembered it being better. Its dry, reasonably light but it’s also light on flavours. There’s lots of red cherry a hint of vanilla and oak that occasionally comes through but it’s just light, one dimensional. The wife loved it and her palette is much better than mine so I will bow to her judgement that it’s got more going on than I could taste.
Bald Hills, Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir, 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand
New Zealand Pinot Noir is some of the best in the world and this one from Bald Hills really shows class. Refreshing, light, red wine that’s very smooth and dry with lots of cherry and raspberry flavours with hints of strawberry. There’s some oak and chocolate and vanilla in there and earthiness which is refreshing, not overpowering and shows subtlety.
Sure it’s £25 a bottle but it’s worth it.
La Belle Angèle, Pinot Noir, 2021, Languedoc, France
A cheap pinot noir is always worth trying because to get a good one is hard and this one from La Belle Angèle from the Languedoc, France is cheap at £7.50. Dry, and easy drinking it’s OK but there’s too much sour cherry at the expense of structure and other flavours. Better when having with food, cheese in my case, it’s one to consider for a BBQ or party.
New Hall Estate, Single Estate, Pinot Noir, 2021, Essex, UK
New Hall Estate in Essex can produce so excellent Lines but this single Estate Pinot Noir is outstanding. It’s one of the best Rosé wines I’ve tasted in a long time. There is a classiness about it, it’s subtle with redcurrent, strawberry, hint of creaminess and minerality on the finish.
At £16 a bottle it’s not cheap but its fantastic wine.
Amisfield, Breakneck, Pinot Noir, 2017, Central Otago, New Zealand
Another excellent Pinot Noir from New Zealand this ‘Breakneck’ from Amisfield is dry, smooth, with firm but well integrated tannins that makes this a joy to drink. Plenty of flavour with red cherry at the front and hints of oak, a subtle earthiness and all with long length.
Sure at £60 a bottle it’s not cheap but then again quality like this is often expensive. It’s a shame as many people won’t get to try it.
Thomas Brothers, Greystone, Pinot Noir, 2015, Waipara, New Zealand
Quite wonderful is how I would describe this Pinot Noir from the Thomas Brothers. Read the below if you want but this is the Pinot to get for special occasions, at £50 a bottle it’s not cheap. There’s flawless integration of tannins, red fruit, oak, with hints of chocolate and leather. There’s a smoothness to this dry red wine where nothing is out of place and a desire just to sip and enjoy.
It only got a bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards which I think is more down to price than quality. I loved this wine.
Broken Stone, Pinot Noir, 2020, Canada
Easy drinking Pinot Noir is my favourite style of red wine presently and this one fits perfectly. Reasonable fruit flavours and a fresh lightness make it approachable while good length makes it fell more premium. There’s a bit more red cherry than anything else but it’s a very good wine to have in the garden on a summer’s day or in front of s fire watching TV.
Amisfield, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2014, New Zealand
New Zealand Pinot Noir has a very good reputation and this 2014 from Amisfield shows why. There’s plenty of red and black fruit aromas and flavours with cherry being dominant but there are notes of chocolate, leather, coffee and an under lying earthiness to it all. Dry, smooth and quite light this is great on its own or with food, we had it with turkey and thought it paired very well.at £40 a bottle it’s not cheap.
Grape Passions, Coastal Reach, Pinot Noir, Rosé, 2021, England
English Pinot Noir is pretty good but when it’s rose it’s even better. Grape Passions is a wind merchant just douth of Colchester znd this is their own brand wine. It’s fresh and crisp with plenty of flavour and good length. You have strawberry and raspberry with red fruit hints all the way through. At about £15 a bottle is not cheap but its pretty good.