Comments on: Does Central Otago Pinot Noir age well? http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:48:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Warren http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-1513 Warren Sun, 29 Jan 2012 23:48:32 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-1513 I was wondering if anyone knew how to get access to the 100% Pinot blush they make in Central Otago over here in the US. I recently did winetasting tours of Hunter Valley (in Ozzie), Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury and Central Otago. I learned a number of things on this tour. I learned I absolutely love Hunters 100% botrytized semillon even though I hate Sauternes and other sweet wines in general (all were amazing but MacGuigan's was the best sweet wine I've ever had). I learned that I love Marlborough savvy's regardless of whether they are the tropical fruit, herbaceous or mixed variety. I learned that Rieslings are not universally disgusting thanks to some great dry ones in Marlborough and ESP Central Otago. I learned that I just really don't like Pinot Noirs (I did a tasting at 8 of the best including Bannockbrae and Felton Roads and still didn't like them so I've reached the determination I simply don't care for the grape in full red wine version. But, I leaned that I actually love Pinot Noir in white ("blondie" in the region) and especially the blush form. All the wineries we stopped at in Central Otago had PN blushes and a few had whites. Universally I Loved them all. Apparently if you let Pinot noir grape skins only contact the wine for 12 hours or so it imparts a magical strawberry and cream flavor that is just amazing especially since it didn't taste sugary, it just had a sweet nose from the magical strawberry element. Does anyone know how to get these over in the States? I'd really like some Bannockbrae or Wooing Tree blush but I'd take any blush or blondie from the area, they were universally good. I was wondering if anyone knew how to get access to the 100% Pinot blush they make in Central Otago over here in the US. I recently did winetasting tours of Hunter Valley (in Ozzie), Marlborough, Nelson, Canterbury and Central Otago. I learned a number of things on this tour. I learned I absolutely love Hunters 100% botrytized semillon even though I hate Sauternes and other sweet wines in general (all were amazing but MacGuigan’s was the best sweet wine I’ve ever had). I learned that I love Marlborough savvy’s regardless of whether they are the tropical fruit, herbaceous or mixed variety. I learned that Rieslings are not universally disgusting thanks to some great dry ones in Marlborough and ESP Central Otago. I learned that I just really don’t like Pinot Noirs (I did a tasting at 8 of the best including Bannockbrae and Felton Roads and still didn’t like them so I’ve reached the determination I simply don’t care for the grape in full red wine version. But, I leaned that I actually love Pinot Noir in white (“blondie” in the region) and especially the blush form. All the wineries we stopped at in Central Otago had PN blushes and a few had whites. Universally I Loved them all. Apparently if you let Pinot noir grape skins only contact the wine for 12 hours or so it imparts a magical strawberry and cream flavor that is just amazing especially since it didn’t taste sugary, it just had a sweet nose from the magical strawberry element. Does anyone know how to get these over in the States? I’d really like some Bannockbrae or Wooing Tree blush but I’d take any blush or blondie from the area, they were universally good.

]]> By: Dermitage http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-415 Dermitage Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:00:21 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-415 Priceless material and first-rate insight. Thanks for your blog post. Priceless material and first-rate insight. Thanks for your blog post.

]]> By: Sandy http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-381 Sandy Sat, 12 Jun 2010 10:37:19 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-381 I truly like this blog, please keep posting. I truly like this blog, please keep posting.

]]> By: bob http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-310 bob Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:44:03 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-310 Kate, 2003 was a good and long-lived vintage. I've tried a few recently (not Quartz Reef) and am impressed with the way they've developed. Quartz Reef is certainly one of Central Otago's better producers. I believe the wine is sealed with a screwcap? If it is and has been stored reasonably well I'd say the wine is likely to be very good indeed. If it's got a cork it's likely to be more evolved and the chance for defects increases. Kate,
2003 was a good and long-lived vintage. I’ve tried a few recently (not Quartz Reef) and am impressed with the way they’ve developed. Quartz Reef is certainly one of Central Otago’s better producers. I believe the wine is sealed with a screwcap? If it is and has been stored reasonably well I’d say the wine is likely to be very good indeed. If it’s got a cork it’s likely to be more evolved and the chance for defects increases.

]]> By: kate http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-309 kate Mon, 05 Apr 2010 05:22:25 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-309 Hi Bob I have a 2003 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir, which was purchased in 2006. I am not a big Pinot drinker (I'm a Sauv Blanc gal....),however I'm thinking of trading it for a favour, or even giving it as a gift. But - I'd hate to poison somebody! Your thoughts please. Thanks Kate Hi Bob

I have a 2003 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir, which was purchased in 2006. I am not a big Pinot drinker (I’m a Sauv Blanc gal….),however I’m thinking of trading it for a favour, or even giving it as a gift. But – I’d hate to poison somebody! Your thoughts please.

Thanks
Kate

]]> By: bob http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-305 bob Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:24:56 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-305 Yes, I did attend the event and was a speaker on the panel - "NZ Pinot Noir - Seven years on". We tasted a number of wines from the 2003 vintage over all the main regions in an attempt to guage just how well NZ Pinot ages. I'm afraid it was fairly inconclusive. I gained the impression that anyone who thought NZ Pinot aged well felt that the tasting proved it while those who didn't think it aged well (including Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate) also felt the tasting reinforced their case. It would take a much larger tasting covering many vintages to demonstrate the ageworthiness, or otherwise, of NZ Pinot Noir. I think the wines are to some extent hampered by their accessibility when young. Youthful drinkability implies a lack of ageing potential. It's an important issue that may need another decade before we can clearly identify the styles, regional or winemaker, that improve in time. Yes, I did attend the event and was a speaker on the panel – “NZ Pinot Noir – Seven years on”. We tasted a number of wines from the 2003 vintage over all the main regions in an attempt to guage just how well NZ Pinot ages. I’m afraid it was fairly inconclusive. I gained the impression that anyone who thought NZ Pinot aged well felt that the tasting proved it while those who didn’t think it aged well (including Neal Martin from The Wine Advocate) also felt the tasting reinforced their case. It would take a much larger tasting covering many vintages to demonstrate the ageworthiness, or otherwise, of NZ Pinot Noir. I think the wines are to some extent hampered by their accessibility when young. Youthful drinkability implies a lack of ageing potential. It’s an important issue that may need another decade before we can clearly identify the styles, regional or winemaker, that improve in time.

]]> By: samuel http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-304 samuel Wed, 31 Mar 2010 01:27:17 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-304 Hi Bob, I am not sure whether you attend the Pinot Noir 2010. If you did, I would like to hear a bit more about the aged Pinot Noir case study across the whole country. Hi Bob,
I am not sure whether you attend the Pinot Noir 2010. If you did, I would like to hear a bit more about the aged Pinot Noir case study across the whole country.

]]> By: Cool Template http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-233 Cool Template Sun, 29 Nov 2009 18:15:55 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-233 Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so. Really nice post! Generally I do not post on blogs, but I would like to say that this post really forced me to do so. Really nice post!

]]> By: bob http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-231 bob Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:34:21 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-231 Richard, I tasted the 2005 Amisfield quite recently. There's no rush to drink it but I wonder how much better it will get as it's very good right now. I'd say enjoy it now or over the next 4-5 years. I'm afraid I don't know much about Central Otago wineey'ry tour organisations but if they're going to do their own tour herre are my favourite winery visits: Amisfiled Peregrine Gibbston Valley FElton Road Mt Difficulty Aurum Rippon Two Paddocks Cheers, BOB Richard,
I tasted the 2005 Amisfield quite recently. There’s no rush to drink it but I wonder how much better it will get as it’s very good right now. I’d say enjoy it now or over the next 4-5 years. I’m afraid I don’t know much about Central Otago wineey’ry tour organisations but if they’re going to do their own tour herre are my favourite winery visits:
Amisfiled
Peregrine
Gibbston Valley
FElton Road
Mt Difficulty
Aurum
Rippon
Two Paddocks

Cheers,
BOB

]]> By: Richard Gibbons http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/does-central-otago-pinot-noir-age-well/comment-page-1#comment-230 Richard Gibbons Sat, 17 Oct 2009 02:05:04 +0000 http://www.bobswinereviews.com/blog/?p=132#comment-230 Dear Bob: I've been a Burgundy enthusiast since the seventies and was a partner in a little winery in Petaluma, CA, La Crema Viñera. Our '79 and '80 Winery Lake Vineyard Pinot Noirs are still tasting quite good, in my humble opinion. Alas, we died of terminal cash flow back in the day. My Godson and his new bride will be spending three weeks in New Zealand in December and I wonder if you can recommend a good tour or two where they can visit some of the better Central Otago Pinot Noir producers. Any suggestions will be appreciated. By the way, I have a 2005 Amsfield Pinot and wonder how it's doing? Thanks for your time, Rich Gibbons. Dear Bob: I’ve been a Burgundy enthusiast since the seventies and was a partner in a little winery in Petaluma, CA, La Crema Viñera. Our ’79 and ’80 Winery Lake Vineyard Pinot Noirs are still tasting quite good, in my humble opinion. Alas, we died of terminal cash flow back in the day. My Godson and his new bride will be spending three weeks in New Zealand in December and I wonder if you can recommend a good tour or two where they can visit some of the better Central Otago Pinot Noir producers. Any suggestions will be appreciated. By the way, I have a 2005 Amsfield Pinot and wonder how it’s doing? Thanks for your time, Rich Gibbons.

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