New Zealand is regarded as one of the best sources of authentic Pinot Noir outside of Burgundy. Regions such as Martinborough, Central Otago and Canterbury illustrate that the variety has a lot to offer in the Land of the Long White Cloud.
Waipara Valley is located to the north of Christchurch on the east coast of New Zealand’s south island. Home to stand out producer Pegasus Bay, it has a track record of producing good quality Pinot Noir, albeit in a New World idiom (this imbiber would argue that inevitable comparisons between New World Pinot Noir and red Burgundy make little sense……yes, similar clones and vinification techniques might be employed, but one shouldn’t necessarily expect Pinot Noir grown in New Zealand to mirror that grown south of Dijon).
The 2010 Pinot Noir from Greystone Wines is very much a full flavoured, powerful, dare I say masculine expression of the variety. Relatively deeply coloured for a Pinot Noir, it possesses a deeply flavoured palate of black fruit, freshly tilled earth providing a touch of lift. Although ‘big’ in many aspects, the wine retains varietal character and thankfully doesn’t drift into ‘dry red’ country. For those who enjoy their Pinot Noir at the bigger boned end of the spectrum, there’s plenty to enjoy here.
2010 PINOT NOIRProducer: Greystone
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2010
Region: Waipara Valley, New Zealand
ABV: 14.4%
Closure: Screw cap
Retail Price: $29.99
Date tasted: 21 July 2013
Tasting Note:
Medium cherry red. Open fruit forward nose of black cherry, dark plum, tilled earth and oak spice. Rich, full flavoured palate, quite full in body, dark cherry and damson fruit to the fore, slightly earthy/herbal undertow. All in all, this is a rich and powerful Pinot Noir, unquestionably New World.
Score: 15.5/20
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