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.
Chile produces great red wines and this Carmenere is a great example. Its bold, dry withĺ great length and softness that gives a feeling of exceptional quality, but at £15 a bottle it’s amazing value. There is tons of flavour with black fruits, plums, cherry and hits of tobacco, oak, vanilla, pepper and hints of coffee and mint.
Can you get bad Carmenere? Probably but I’ve yet to taste it. There are better Carmenere’s out there for sure but this is a good one. Lots to smell and taste, aromas mainly of black fruits, cherry, plum with oak, vanilla, leather, tobacco and pepper. Some comes through on the taste but you also get hints of raspberry and strawberries.
It could be a bit more smoother, refined. If I have it with food I would probably be singing it’s praises, on its own I just liked it.
Cono Sur, ‘La Rinconada’ Single Vineyard Block 28, Carmenere, Chile