Mt Difficulty, Pinot Noir, Bannockburn

kers Aardse rood fruit

2007 vintage

Decanted before drinking, Normally not something I would do with a pinot but as it was young I thought it would benefit. The wine is clear. Looks Garnet coloured. The legs are med. There is no sediment in the bottle. On the nose: Fresh red fruit, candied apple, fresh cherries, Stoniness and minerality to finish. On the palate: Red fruit, not overly sweet, black pepper, savoury flavours. The body is light. The wine has fresh and slightly angular texture. The …

2018 vintage

Kept it too long - a speciality of mine.... However, nice secondary notes, just a bit subdued.

2007 vintage

Decanted for an hour and drunk over a couple of hours. This takes time to relax and open up still, but it’s worth the wait, the nose is sweetly decaying red fruit with a touch of violets, the palate has waves of acid cutting through the cherry fruit and some soft leather notes, nice long finish.

2007 vintage

Full of fruit and full body Pinot - love it!

2007 vintage

Superb. Spice, oak subdued and integrated, length. Fantastic wine in a brilliant phase of evolution. Sorry i have none left.

2007 vintage

Ripe and full (14%abv); ripe berry, rich cola, spices. More Sonoma than Burgundy. I like it.

2007 vintage

Wonderful, great balance... bit of woodiness coming through

2007 vintage

Lucious central otago pinot with nice cherries on the nose. Tannins are balanced while still not completely resolved leading to a lingering finish. Will surely still be evolving still for the next 12-18 months

2007 vintage

NZ's Finest Pinot Noir Collection (Fine Wine Delivery, Mt Wellington, Auckland) : this Pinot Noir defines Central Otago. medium dark ruby, clear. all balanced and smooth. dark cherry and other red/dark fruits, firm tannins, fine-grained, fresh acidity. medium weight and length, some herbal, earth and savoury notes. medium dry finish. pure and clean tastes, moderate style, austere but dignified. Alc. 14% T/A 5.4 gL pH 3.7 RP 89, JS 93, WS 89, RC 18.5+ Ap 4/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 17/20, …

2012 vintage

Beautiful, probably at it's peak now. Nose has mellowed somewhat but still have beautiful high notes, very clean and typical kiwi pinot nose. Palate has softened over the years. Doesn't feel overly concentrated as I might recall and has nice balance now. Palate and finish seem to follow seamlessly from what I get on the nose. Still has good acid backbone but nice fruit around it, and soft tannins. The acid and tannin trail off nicely on the medium finish.

2005 vintage

"2014" Sydney International Wine Show - stewarding notes; 10/13/2013-10/18/2013 (Blue Mountains, NSW) : {screwcap, 14%} A beautiful, youthful melding of strawberries and cherry aromas. The dry palate is ripe, smoke and strawberry-flavoured, with fairly low chalky tannins, and a light/medium body. Although soft and gentle on the palate it’s not spineless, there’s a core of acid supporting a medium-length finish. The impression does soften on the mid and back palates somewhat. A good wine for the shorter term, probably over-priced …

2012 vintage

Past it's prime. Fruit gone but still not bad.

2007 vintage

Fine garnet. Some mahogany. Nose fairly reticent. Plenty of dark cherry and cranberries. Touch of earthiness. More elegance and finesse than fruit and power. Medium length. Nice enough but no fireworks.

2007 vintage

On opening this is really lively, as if its a new vintage, ut after some time in a decanter it mellows out, the nose has a touch of development alongside dark berries, a bit of heat showing too. Smooth in the mouth, ripe fruit, some black currant and cranberry, a wave of acidity follows up, the finish is quite long with fine tannin. I think it would keep for longer.

2007 vintage

Pungent, decayed, vinegarised nose, with notes of cranberry and lemon. Bold, subtle vanilla. Lemon is the dominant flavour on the palate, though there are hints of tertiary flavours. Good structure, with balanced acid and tannins. Good potential for further ageing.

2005 vintage

Crimson colored, medium legs. It smells like Blackberry, black currant (cassis), Lead Pencil, and Mushroom. It tastes like Bark, and Tobacco with some vegetality like eggplant. Medium body but finish is thinner and shorter than I expected. I think we left this too long as its lost some of the vitality and fruit I like in their wines.

2005 vintage

Red cherries, quite fresh and smooth, but had a bitter finish and a bit more cola than I like in my pinots.

2007 vintage

Medium ruby core, medium pale ruby rim. Nose shows black cherry, cola, notes of nail varnish. Medium/full on the palate, moderate, firm tannins, lacking acidity and grace, some attractive black cherry fruit but also white pepper and nail varnishy/chemical notes. Medium length finish. Not that good, probably should have drunk this while the fruit was more vigorous. Day 2 this had improved slightly with the dark chery fruit more to the fore, the tannins softer, but still with subdued acidity …

2007 vintage

A massive improvement here compared to my last bottle. What a difference a year can make. Settled down and showing all the hallmarks of a great NZ pinot.

2007 vintage

Weekly tasting group #015; Pinot Noir (@ MM) : Beautiful bouquet with forest fruits and a touch of sweetness. Very concentrated and juicy. There is a good amount of acidity and bitterness. The tannin is just a bit edgy. Certainly a very good wine, but keeping it a few more years, so the tannin can soften a bit more, won't hurt.

2007 vintage

Dark cherries, strawberry, earth and spice. The acid is a bit spiky though and the fruit a bit thin on the palate. I was a tad disappointed but not a bad wine.

2007 vintage

Not sure what the deal is here. In fairness, we overpaid for this at a restaurant, and it really did go well with everything (with quite a lot of diversity), but i think it was because it didn't challenge or compete with the food, rather than become part of the meal. I will try this again on its own, and take so advice to cellar it a little longer, but overall, not impressed.

2007 vintage

This is continuing to improve. Still loads of fruit but with a most pleasant balance and tannins integrating this is really enjoyable

2007 vintage

Second bottle of this that I have had. Really still not convinced. I think it will be fantastic in 5 years time but very unapproachable at the moment. I will keep my remaining 6 bottles for at least another 3 years.

2007 vintage

Nowhere near 2006. Had a sharp, crisp acidity that almost seemed carbonated. Dark cherries, spice, raspberries. Seemed a little hollow. I don't know... Underperforms relative to price.

2007 vintage

Been lucky enough to drink this wine many times since release and to witness its journey from good to great has been a trip. All the classic stuff that ensures the future of Central Otago winemaking , is settling into its stirrups and showing where it is going as a wine and it is exciting to see. The exuberance (Spelling?) of youthful spice and massive ripe rich fruit is starting to mature with the excellent tannin and acids all pulling …

2007 vintage

Nice balance of fruit and minerality

2005 vintage

Nice and fleshy, good acidity, cherries, earth.

2007 vintage

Beats, smokey underbrush, spicy caraway seed, raspberry liqueur on the nose.The fruit is firm and delicious. Not new world, not old world, but very nice New Zealand Pinot.

2007 vintage

Nice nose but palate out of balance

2005 vintage

my personal taste in PN is changing --this tries for 'barn yard funk' but just misses the mark - not a doctor pepper type PN ( but clsoe ) - but not a Cali or Burgundy either with great fruit AND funk

2005 vintage

Black cherry, earth and spice sum up the nose on this wonderful example of what Central Otago does best. Rich dark cherry fruit and subtle spice on the palette with a touch too much tannin at this stage to suggest balance has yet been achieved. Expecting significant improvement from what has been a good vintage in NZ.

2007 vintage

A Review of NZ pinots; 5/14/2010-5/15/2010 (Jade Seafood At forum) : Still pretty dark cherry fruited and extracted but still relatively well supported by structure and silky tannins. Hints of woodspice, some dirt but dominantly still crushed dark red cherries. The most structured amonng the pinots but then structure is something that I dont usually try to seek out much in a pinot as compared to elegance or attractive fruits. This though would develop with time. A little tight now.

2007 vintage

Good wine, as expected. Opened up with time. Well integrated fruit, oak and tannins. A very balanced wine, not overly fruit driven.

2005 vintage

Great wine, classic central otago taste and flavor with a little more depth than usual (2005), less fruit forward than my previous bottles (2 years ago) but more complex and harmonious.

2005 vintage

The nose has poop for days, with a candied cherry jolly rancher undercurrent. On the palate, light-bodied, acidic, and medium tannins. Definitely some funk, fairly Burgundian with a touch more fruit. Ultimately, not super-complex, but a good food-friendly stinky Pinot. Good length. $25

2005 vintage

First off, this didn't impress me like the '04 did. Without saying that, this is deeper and more complex (but not in a good way for me) than the fun and exuberant '04 (even though the nose had such promise!). After reading the other reviews, I seem to be aligned with GraemeG’s notes but maybe this was based on expectations. I paired it with pan roasted duck breast crusted in Schezuan pepper and topped with a sour cherry sauce. Maybe …

2005 vintage

a bit overpriced for the taste

2005 vintage

A lot of intrigue on the nose. Varietally in line, but unique. Strawberry notes with a little pleasant funk. Some sizzle on the palate with great flavor. Exceeded expectations.

2005 vintage

Drank at Eric's birthday celebration at Auzora. Very smooth and more New World but not over the top. Eric liked it a lot.

2005 vintage

NobleRottersSydney - Pinot Comparison (Alio's, Surry Hills) : {screwcap, 14%} The nose promises much; smoky dark plums, bloodied fruits, cured meats, but avoids bacterial notes. The palate is quite lightweight, still fruity, with dried fruit and bacon notes. Low powdery tannins frame a well-balanced palate, and yet something is missing; there’s a shallowness which is all the more disappointing for its unexpectedness. Perhaps some time will help?

2005 vintage

Deep garnet; violets, beets, smoked meat, savoury cheese, earth, sour cherries; sour cherry, mushroom, elegant, light-medium body, good acidity, firm ripe tannins, lingering finish. Good colour, complex nose, earthy fruit and lively acidity which smoothed out with aeration. Best NZ pinot I've had. Excellent with turkey.

2005 vintage

Lacked the complexity I'd hoped for.

2005 vintage

My favourite NZ pinot to date. Wild strawberry on the nose. Medium bodied, with berry flavours.

2005 vintage

Big, concentrated, juicy NZ Pinot! Full bodied and rich with notes of ripe strawberries, raspberries. Pretty high alcohol, but the concentration of fruit carries it effortlessy. Definitely not to be mistaken for a Burgundy PN, but well-made, balanced and true to the region.

2005 vintage

A well made Pinot in the old world style. Berry flavors are not quite ripe enough even for the old world. No noticeable tannins. Fair QPR. I hear the '04 is better??? I would buy again. AMM

2005 vintage

Nice ruby colour with hints of cigar box, strawberry and new Reebok shoes. Nice flavour profile with tobacco and strawberries. Well done

2005 vintage

Montreal Offline: Eclectic wines (No fixed theme) (Restaurant Chez Christophe's) : Medium-deep ruby red. With a nice nose of cherries, oak and red fruits. Nice mouth of vanilla, oak and cherries on a well balanced structure. Medium plus length. Had this definitely pegged as new world.

2005 vintage

Black cherry and spice nose, full and aromatic, especially with some air. Cedary oak, strawberry and black currant, light- to medium-bodied, with moderate tannin and good acidity. Very nicely balanced.

2005 vintage

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Mt Difficulty, Pinot Noir, Bannockburn

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