Thibault Liger-Belair Chambolle Musigny premier cru “les greuenchers” 2008

89 points

Light ruby colour. Spritzig.

Slightly syrawberry jam like but not annoyingly so. Quite vivacious. Fresh.

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Domain Lucien Boillot Volnay les caillerets 2006

89 points

Burgundy. 13%

There is some off-putting Brett on the nose, in fact nothing really to attract, but the palate is a revelation. Good core of ripe fruit. Acidity in balance.

Drinking well with perhaps 10 years ahead of it still.

Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches 2002

90 points

Beaune, Burgundy. 13%

Very enjoyable aged burgundy. Lovely relaxed style. But not profound.

Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir 2009 Kayena Vineyard

89+ points

Tasmania, Australia. 13%

More vinous and darker than expected. Very young. Impressive, sturdy without weight, not a strawberry fruity wine.

Nor sweet like many NZ Pinots.

Good potential.

Edmond Cornu & Fils Chorey Les Beaune les bons ores 2007

75 points

Burgundy, France. 13%

The out of balance acidity is disappointing. But gradually a swamp water character starts to assert itself.

Craggy Range Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008

80 points

Bannockburn, Otago, South Island, New Zealand. 14%

bought from the vineyard and carefully cellared.

Overly alcoholic prune, sweet. Disappointing.

Tamar Ridge Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009

85 points

Tasmania, Australia. 13%

Very well made, finely judged wine. Dark fruits, restrained sweetness, nice balance. The flavour sweetness balance puts it into the very top league of Australian Pinot.

I’d give it higher points if it had greater concentration, but this is an early drinking wine. For light, or no food. A very good advertisement for Tamar Ridge’s more expensive bottlings.

Willow Creek Vineyard ‘Tulum’ Pinot Noir 2008

77 points

Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. 14%

Simple varietal wine, a lack of texture, heading towards pruney ripe fruit and then acid finish.

Each bottle I hope this wine will get better but…no.

“Gloriously fragrant and effusive; the palate is long and refined, with a vibrant array of red and black cherry, plum and spice; French oak is totally integrated. Screwcap. 14% alc. Rating 96 Points; Drink 2015” $40 Date Tasted Nov 09 James Halliday Wine Companion

Mike Press Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2009

86 points

Adelaide Hills, South Australia. 13%

Fresh, slightly characteristically sappy Pinot though quite a rich mid-palate. Nice texture.

Overshadowed by the much richer, indeed opulent, Ashton Hills 2008 that this was tasted against.

Drink now, although should be better in 4-6 months.

Ashton Hills Pinot Noir (Estate) 2008

88 points.

Adelaide Hills. 14.5%

A rich seductive pinot. Lightish in colour. Warm slightly spiced aromas of fruit and French oak (which the fruit just sops up).

James Haliday gave this something like 95 points. Now those points are for an Australian audience but even so I’m less enthusiastic. I prefer a less sweet and alcoholic Pinot.

I recall Jancis Robinson on a visit to Australia praising a Coldstream Hills Pinot that was 12.8% alcohol and saying Pinot isn’t Grenache.

Drink now.

Domaine St Nicolas cuvee Jacques 2006

83+ points

Fiefs Vendeens, Loire. 13%

85% Pinot Noir and 15% Cabernet Franc. It’s a fairly simple cherry Pinot upfront but backed by quite a lot of tannin and a savory finish.

Biodynamic, which is very popular in the Loire, as are stupid wasteful heavy glass bottles.

Dominque Laurent Marsannay clos du roy veilles vignes 2005

89 points

Burgundy, France. 13%

Unusual in that it lacks the floral charm of the best Marsannay and other minor Burgundies yet isn’t as profound as the best premier league wines. What it is is a fairly weighty masculine Burgundy.

I’d leave it until 2012 to see if more charm develops though it’s a good solid drink now.

F and D Clair Santenay 1er Cru Clos Des Mouches 2002

90 points

Burgundy, France. 13%

The last bottle of a thoroughly enjoyable case of Burgundy. Nothing forced, nothing over-blown. Gentle but it put on weight over the years and comfortably aged to 8 years old.

Not a show pony but a few years back in a small competitive tasting against 1 or 2 good Australian pinots it showed its class.

Good value.

Chard Farm River Run Pinot Noir 2003

89 points

Central Otago, NZ. 13.5%

A pleasant surprise. I’ve had some uninspiring Pinots from Chard Farm in the past but this is good. Rather classic NZ Pinot with nice savoury notes counterbalancing the varietal sweetness. A touch of stalkiness, moderate concentration. Very enjoyable. Drink now or over the next couple of years.

PHI Lusatia Park Vineyard 2006

80 points

Yarra Valley. 13.5%

Slightly jammy, low acid, browning substantially. Not as bad as this sounds it’s table friendly Pinot but not great.

Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir 2007

85 points

Marlborough. 14%

This has nice flavour, not too sweet, not too simple cherry, but the lack of concentration is disappointing. It was swamped by food. Drink by itself now until 2011.

Ostler Caroline’s Pinot Noir 2006

88+ points

Waitaki Valley, Otago, NZ. 13%

Dark wine. Dense and rich. Not charming. A masculine style of Pinot.

A bit dumb for a kiwi Pinot that’s 4 years old. I suspect it will emerge and deserve even higher points but to be honest I don’t have enough experience with NZ Pinot Noir and how they age so I could very well be wrong and this is all you will ever get. Hedge your bets either drink now or in 2-3 years time.

Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2007

89 points

Central Otago, NZ. 13.5%

Muted slightly reductive nose. Beautifully balanced wine with pristine varietal flavours which while they aren’t savoury they lack the sweetness of some Otago Pinots. So pretty impressive but I had expected greater concentration from this low yield vintage. The wine struggles somewhat with food.

Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir 2008

89 points

Bannockburn, Central Otago, NZ. 14%

Intensely rich Felton Rd style but with backbone of tannin and some acid so it avoids being cloying. Better left for 2-3 years at least.

Martinborough Vineyard Te Tera Pinot Noir 2008

90 points

Martinborough, North Island, NZ. 13.5%

On the 2nd day after opening this really showed its class. A ripe sweet varietal wine without the slightest sign of over-extraction and interesting spicy smokey flavours to balance the sweetness. This is great value. Drink now and over the 4 years.

Carrick Pinot Noir 2005

89 points

Bannockburn, Central Otago, NZ. 13.5%

Bought from the vineyard. Nice even darkish brick red. Some aromas of leather which are very attractive.

A little spirity but otherwise enjoyable fairly weighty wine without being over extracted. Sort of textbook Pinot with a fair whack of oak which seems to be the house style.

Carrick Excelsior Pinot Noir 2006

88 points

Bannockburn, Central Otago, NZ 13.5%

Oaky nose. Dense cherry flavours within a savoury flavour spectrum. An awful lot of oak but this is still a good wine. I like the savoury flavours.

Carrick Pinot Noir 2007

86 points

Bannockburn, Central Otago. 13.5%

Like biting into cherry. Very fruity acids.

Georgetown Vineyard 2008

87+ points
Central Otago, NZ. 13.5%

Ripe round full. The sweetness on the front palate is immediately obvious but there are some stalky notes, I think it will develop savoury characters with age.

Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006

points

Central Otago, NZ. 13%

From just outside Alexandra thisis a small winery I had not heard of prior to visiting Otago yet they appear to have garnered awards and even a Parker rating.

It’s a rather classic quality New World Pinot without deep colour and great extraction. Savoury and floral with bright acid. With many other open bottles of Otago Pinot this disappeared quickly. Well worth trying again. Drink now and over next 4 years.

Peregrine Pinot Noir 2008

89 Points

Central Otago, NZ. 14%

Not far from Queenstown and near to Chard Farm vineyard.

Light colour compared to the more heroic wines coming out of this region. Lovely florality nothing forced no cherry syrup.

A tangy sappy style, refreshing with background hints tobacco.

Greylands Ridge Pinot Noir 2006

78 points

Alexandra, Central Otago. 13.5%

Dark. Extracted macerated cherry aromas, slightly disgusting. Soft raisin flavours with some green notes. ‘Long hang time’ freakish wine. Perhaps it deserves points for individuality? Drink now. Great to include in an Otago Pinot tasting for its idiosyncratic character.

Felton Road Cornish Point 2008

85 points

Bannockburn, Otago. 14%

Very dark. Dense aromas. Spritzig. Quite a concentrated masculine style at present though the acid is soft. A bit pruney and extracted for Pinot. It’s a bit of a worry that Felton Road is going Californian with this wine.

Iwi Pinot Noir 2006

84 points

Cromwell, Central Otago.

Sweet lifted strawberry notes. Simple but nice acid balance.

Estate wine of ‘The Big Picture’ wine experience (recommended) in Cromwell.

Desert Heart Pinot Noir 2006

86 points

Bannockburn, Otago, NZ. 13.5%

Nice sappy varietal Pinot. Otago really does fruit.

A little thin with alcohol flavours a bit too prominent. Drink now.