It’s a wine bar/cafe/restaurant with a fascinatingly extensive and well thought-out wine list, along with a wonderful range of tasting flights and wine by the glass, all kept fresh under argon gas. Knowledgeable staff too. Perhaps it’s a population base thing, as we just don’t have its like in Dunedin. I’d recommend a visit.
2021 Jules Taylor Marlborough Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent
Bright, juicy, ripely
fruited, leaps out of
the glass, an earthy/
dusty nuance, oak
spices, youthful, fresh
and attractive. The
palate continues the
theme — rich and
ripe, oak spices to the
fore, dark berry fruits,
pencil shavings,
cocoa nib. Nicely
done, open and crying
out to be enjoyed.
Time allows the
structural backbone
to show, adding to its
food friendliness.
2021 Craggy Range SV Te Muna Vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir
Rating Outstanding
Richness and power,
savoury qualities, tilled
earth, smoke, bacon fat,
fruit neatly in support, the
nose draws you in. Ripe
yet dry, a beguiling
lightness and ethereality,
lovely integration,
nothing out of place.
Bright acidity, a
deceptive tannic
backbone with a
delightfully long close. A
sense of refinement and
completeness.
Approachable yet
potential.
2021 Pegasus Bay Waipara Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
A sense of volume,
forest floor, fungi,
dusty gravel, the sweet
fruit and savoury notes
flood in, a wisp of
leather. While there’s
power and depth
there’s elegance too.
The brisk acidity and
big, chewy tannins
provide the framework
for the fruit. Long,
attractively dry finish
with a bittersweet
quality. Nice balance,
works superbly as a
whole.
2021 Jules Taylor OTQ Organic S.V Marlborough Pinot Noir
Rating Excellent to Outstanding
Bold, powerful nose
offering toffee apple,
licorice, earth,
blueberry and plum,
with real generosity. An
equally generous
palate, grainy chewy
tannins and depth of
flavour,
sumptuousness and
complexity. Manages a
lovely balance between
the rich, sweet fruit and
the long, dry and
composed finish. A lot
to enjoy with a bright
future too.
2020 Te Kairanga WPF Martinborough Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
The nose suggests
coolness with red
fruits and cranberry
making way for
raspberry, spice notes
and a wisp of
balsamic. Quite a
different palate
expression, lightness,
vibrancy, crunchiness
on a relatively
lightweight frame. Fine
tannins, sapidity,
sweetly fruited yet
tangy with great
length, focusing on
pinosity in lieu of
concentration.
2021 Main Divide North Canterbury Pinot Noir
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Smoke and stuck
match notes, char,
nicely ripe fruit,
attractive florality
building. There’s a
chewy tannic
backdrop but this is all
about the fruit, ripe yet
dry, with a tangy,
zesty quality offering a
refreshing
counterpoint. Open,
bright and well-made,
this is heart on its
sleeve stuff just
waiting to be enjoyed.
Fleshes out very nicely
as it takes on air.
