Top 10 Pinot Noir 2023
I am excited to bring you Top 10 Pinot Noir 2023! Pinot Noir is the most well-known red variety in New Zealand, predominantly the leading red variety in the cooler southerly regions such as Central Otago, North Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and Wairarapa. These regions provide warm days, cool nights, moderate rainfall and good drainage soils to allow the vines to thrive. This lineup includes 5 wines from Central Otago, 1 from Waitaki Valley, 2 from North Canterbury, and 2 from Martinborough. 9 out of 10 of this lineup scored over 95 out of 100 points; no doubt New Zealand is producing some of the best Pinot Noir in the world. The prices of this lineup range from RRP $60-100, a very affordable price point compared to Pinot Noir from other countries.
According to NZ Winegrowers statistics, there are 5,807 hectares of Pinot Noir planted in New Zealand, with Marlborough leading with 2,733 ha, followed by 1,656la in Central Otago, 527 ha in Wairarapa, 444 ha in North Canterbury, 223 ha in Hawke’s Bay, 164 ha in Nelson, 27 in Gisborne and 24 ha in Waitaki Valley, North Otago.
NZ Pinot Noir are generous in fruit and rich in colour, with a medium to medium-full body. Primary aromas range from raspberry, strawberry, cherry, blackberry and plum, with thyme, cinnamon and nutmeg notes. Winemaking decisions with whole bunch fermentation tend to add a floral, tea fragrance layer of nuances. Earthy, forest floor expressions are from particular sites or maturation. Fermentation often happens in open-top fermenters, vats with indigenous yeasts, pump over or plunge down daily during fermentation, 7-28 days post-ferment maceration then racked to mainly seasoned French oak barrels for maturation with 25%-40% new oak as the norm. With ideal cellaring conditions, these wines have 10-15+ years of cellaring potential.
I invite you to taste this Top 10 Pinot Noir lineup with me in Auckland, Wellington or Queenstown. Seats are limited. Get your tickets now.
Auckland 14th Nov – https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, North Otago
It’s the second 100-point wine I’ve ever given.
Valli Wine produces Pinot Noir from four sub-regions around Central Otago: Gibbston, Bannockburn, Bendigo and Waitaki. Founder/ Winemaker Grant Taylor established Valli in 1998 and is one of NZ’s most-awarded winemakers. Jen Parr, the New Zealand Winemaker of the Year 2020 (Gourmet Traveller Wine), joined Valli in 2015. The two work closely together to produce Pinot Noir that expresses a sense of place and vintage.
Grown on limestone-based soils with river gravels spread through, slightly cooler than Central Otago, lower cropped with elegant fruit and chalky minerality.
– Read full review here.
– Shop Valli Wines
Pyramid Valley Manata Pinot Noir 2021, Central Otago
The inaugural release of an estate Pinot Noir made from different parcels of the Manata estate (original Lowburn Ferry vineyard), sitting off the tops of the rocky glacial outcrops and above the sandy valley floor, millennia of wind and wash down from the Low Burn has created a deep bed of loess and over then schist base. National Viticulturist Nick Paulin manages the vineyard, a thriving ecosystem above and below ground with a regenerative mindset, allowing the vines to tell their story.
– Full Review here.
– Shop Pyramid Valley Wine.
Pegasus Bay Reserve Prima Donna Pinot Noir 2019, North Canterbury
The Donaldson Family have been immersed in the wine industry since the 1970s and were pioneers of local grape growing and winemaking. Today, all four sons work together in the business and are proud to be family-owned.
Prima Donna Pinot Noir is only produced in exceptional vintages. It’s a selection from the best barrels from the vineyard’s oldest ungrafted plantings.
– Detailed review here.
– Shop Pegasus Bay Wine here.
Escarpment Pahi Pinot Noir 2021, Martinborough
The Pahi Vineyard is situated on Te Muna Road adjacent to the Escarpment Vineyard. Planted in 2003, the site possesses the same alluvial, free-draining gravel soils which have made Martinborough famous. Fermented with 58% whole bunches, on skins for 25 days, aged in French oak for 20 months, 25% new oak. Unfined, unfiltered.
– Read more here.
– Shop Escarpment Wine
Blue Earth Pinot Noir 2019, Martinborough
Margaret & Mike Hanson produce premium wine and olive oil on their little piece of paradise in Martinborough, off an old river terrace overlooking Te Muna Valley. The stony soils, gentle north-facing slope, and crystal-clear water of the Ruakokoputuna River make this a unique site to produce high-quality, low-yielding Pinot Noir. In 2010, they made The Elder Pinot wines, now sharing them as Blue Earth Estate wines alongside their olive oil under the same name.
– Read full review here.
– Shop Blue Earth Wine.
Wild Earth Earth & Sky Pinot Noir 2022, Central Otago
Owner and founder Quintin Quider prefers to be in the kitchen barrel-cooking delicious food and entertaining diners in his bistro and bar, The Stoaker Room. After setting up Wild Earth Wines, he appointed Elbert Jolink as General Manager and the talented winemaker Jen Parr to produce the wines.
The fruit was from selected parcels from the Bannockburn sub-region, fermented with an average of 18% whole bunch, on skins maceration 21-28 days, aged for 12 months approx in French oak barriques, 24% new oak.
– Read more here.
– Shop Wild Earth Wines.
Mon Cheval Le Char Pinot Noir 2017, North Canterbury
Owner Deborah & Graham Pearson are hands-on in their 2.2-hectare vineyard at the entrance to Weka Pass in North Canterbury, planted with Pinot Noir and a small amount of Riesling. The dream was made possible by their champion racehorse Under Cover Lover who raced in NZ, Australia and the USA from 1997-2000. She resided on the farm on the property and was the motivation for the name of the wine label Mon Cheval.
– Read the detailed review here.
– Shop Mon Cheval Wines.
Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir 2022, Central Otago
Coal Pit is a boutique family vineyard based in the Gibbston sub-region of Central Otago. Fully certified organic vineyard since 2023 and an on-site winery to ensure control of quality production.
The first Artisan Series release of Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir, the fruit was from a high elevated site in Bendigo, clones 115, 5 and Abel. Handpicked, 100% whole bunch wild fermented in stainless steel, then transferred to seasoned French oak, unfined, lightly filtered.
– Read full review.
– Shop Coal Pit Wines.
La Bella Rosa Pinot Noir 2022, Central Otago
La Bella Rosa is made from fruit grown in the vineyard around The Mt Rosa Lodge property at 482 metres above sea level in the Gibbston sub-region. Exclusively clone 777 Pinot Noir, with 4-5 barrels annual production. Owners Stuart & Michelle Boyce are hands-on in the vineyard pruning and harvesting when they are not in the lodge hosting guests. Winemaking is handled by Gibbston pioneer Alan Brady.
– Read more here.
– Email info@mtrosalodge.co.nz to register your interest.
Hawkshead Reserve Pinot Noir 2022, Central Otago
Hawkshead is a boutique producer based in the Gibbston sub-region of Central Otago. Denis Marshall and Ulrike Kurenbach bought a farmland block back in 1995 and planted their first Pinot Noir in 2001. The vineyard is situated 350-400m above sea level, with an average rainfall of 650mm per annum, producing low-yielding high-quality fruit by the capable hands of winemaker Dean Shaw.
– See full review.
– Shop Hawkshead Wines.
