Look out for the Taste Top Wine Award stickers on these bottles at supermarkets and selected liquor retailers.
Less than $30
Framingham 2017 Nobody’s Hero Pinot Noir Marlborough $19.99
Attractive lifted aroma of violets and ripe cherries leads to a cherry/berry and spice flavours on the palate. Light, crisp and tangy Pinot Noir with surprising power and length.
Grove Mill 2016 Pinot Noir Marlborough $25
Bright, fresh and flavoursome Pinot Noir with cherry, plum, spice and subtle fresh herb flavours. Appealing and accessible wine with purity and energy. Offers great value at this price.
Margrain 2016 River’s Edge Pinot Noir Martinborough $26
Fresh, high energy Pinot Noir with red cherry, violet, red rose and anise/spice flavours. The wine shows lovely purity. A distinctive style that’s a pleasure to drink. Great value.
Main Divide 2015 Pinot Noir North Canterbury $24.99
Appealing Pinot Noir with black cherry, dark berry and juicy plum flavours plus a seasoning of spicy oak. Accessible wine with an attractively peppery texture and lengthy finish. Good value.
$30-$50
Blank Canvas 2015 Pinot Noir Marlborough $44.99
Evocatively perfumed wine with savoury/fresh herb, violet/red rose, cherry/berry flavours supported by classy spicy oak. Dense and seamless with an impressively lengthy finish.
Terra Sancta 2016 Jackson’s Block Pinot Noir Central Otago $49.95
Attractively aromatic Pinot Noir with dark cherry, violet, plum, thyme/anise and spicy oak flavours. Concentrated but at the same time has been made with a light touch.
Auntsfield 2016 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Marlborough $45
Attractively scented Pinot Noir with dark cherry, plum, violet and spicy oak flavours. The wine has appealing density and a velvety texture. Seductive wine.
Maude 2016 EMW Pinot Noir Central Otago $45
Very interesting wine that is more ‘vinous’ than fruity with spice, floral and herb notes taking centre-stage. Fine, ripe and with slightly peppery tannins. Very impressive.
More than $50
Burn Cottage 2016 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir Central Otago $65
This is a terrific Pinot Noir – totally seductive ripe cherry/berry/plum flavours with added complexity from subliminal floral, spice and savoury/herb characters.
Ata Rangi 2016 Pinot Noir Martinborough $75
Elegant, supple and very vibrant Pinot Noir with seductively layered floral/red rose, cherry/red fruits, dried herb and mixed spice flavours. Wonderfully pure Pinot Noir with a distinctive house/vineyard style and a proven ability to age graciously.
Felton Road 2017 Block 5 Pinot Noir Central Otago $109
The only Pinot Noir to receive 100 points from me. Extraordinary wine showing great purity and power with layer upon layer of subtle flavours that include violets, red rose petal, dark cherry and mixed spices.
Felton Road 2017 Block 3 Pinot Noir Central Otago $109
Floral, herb, berry fruit and an array of hard-to-describe savoury elements suggesting baked earth, wood smoke and the sort of scents you might encounter in sniffing distance
of a Turkish spice stall. Brilliant!
