New World Pinot Power
As the nights darken and our trees transform from vibrant green to deep orange and apricot, we look for wines that offer those autumnal scents and flavours.
Here are three New Zealand Pinot Noirs we tasted last week that offer just that, but are each uniquely different.
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013
First up is Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013, sourced from vineyards 7km outside of Martinborough, on New Zealand’s North Island. Sharing the same latitude as its more southerly neighbour Marlborough, the region nonetheless enjoys a slightly warmer temperature, with long sunshine hours and low rainfall.
Winemaker Matt Stafford has produced a wine with lovely autumnal aromas of forest floor, lichen, damsons and mulberries. Medium bodied, with subtle flavours of hazelnut and dark chocolate, and a refreshing acidity.
The ideal wine to partner with a tangy goats cheese, and charcuterie.
DPD ex. VAT per case of six – £93.06; RRP per bottle – £27.99
Babich Black Label Pinot Noir 2014
Moving south to Marlborough, Babich Black Label Pinot Noir 2014, offers lovely concentration with a palate of late-picked raspberries and elegant notes of spice.
Made specifically as a food wine, this is very moreish and, at 14%, is no shy and retiring Pinot.
However, the wine is beautifully balanced with a ripe and savoury mid palate that will pair perfectly with a range of autumn dishes including duck breast and calves liver.
DPD ex. VAT per case of six – £57.42; RRP per bottle £16.99
Huia Pinot Noir 2013
Staying in Marlborough our final wine is the Huia Pinot Noir 2013. Produced by organic winemakers Claire and Mike Allen, from vineyards in both the Brancott and Wairau valleys. This dual siting enables them to blend fruit from more mature vines of nearly three decades with younger plantings.
The resulting wine offers dense aromas of black cherry and leather, with a delicious palate of plums and damsons. The finish is long with notes of dark chocolate and sour cherry.
A very versatile wine, that sits between Craggy Range and Babich in style. Search for venison, guinea fowl or rich poultry to partner with this perfect autumnal Pinot.
DPD ex. VAT per case of six – £66.90; RRP per bottle – £19.99