Gently reductive upon opening (and still now, after 20 minutes in the glass), the 2021 Pinot Noir is savory and spicy with peppercorns, licorice, black cherry and a hint of tapenade. A pleasurable black tea bitterness lingers after the wine has gone. I li...
The 2022 Marsannay Les Favières unwinds in the glass with notes of wild berries mingled with orange zest, licorice, rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it's deep and racy, with a dense core of fruit framed by powdery tannins...
Pouring a deeper ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is ripe and layered in the glass, with a generous, inviting, pure perfume of black cherries, cola, sweet baking spice, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, it has a lot of charm and...
Charming nose of cherries, wild currants, dried herbs and forest floor. Medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Vivid, nervy and crispy throughout. There is a spicy dimension with a transparent, succulent character at the end.
It must be difficult being Cloudy Bay, because fame brings extra scrutiny and the question, ‘Does this brand offer value for money in the context of the wider region?’ In 2023, the Sauvignon Blanc silences its critics. Its vineyard may be much larger than...
Key vineyards: Widows, Motukawa and Estate. Hand-picked selected lots within blocks. They're looking for the older vines. Less new oak than there used to be (though there is some sweet oakiness) and less ripe fruit. They start the ambient-yeast ferment in...
I recently tasted a 2006 Pinot Noir from magnum (although whether a magnum format is relevant under screw cap is to be discussed) at the estate in September 2023, and the wine was superb. It was aging slowly and still exhibited loads of fresh fruit, but i...