A new tasting of a wine I’ve tried a few times – first at the vineyard, and then a review a year ago – https://winefolio.co.nz/?p=11812. The bottle today is at a blind tasting of top Pinots (Rippon, Devotus, Kusuda etc).
A slightly opaque burgundy-red colour in the glass. A reductive funk to the aroma initially, that was off-putting, but blew off after a few minutes in the glass. Certainly distinctive and complex, with a smoky incense-laden opening, then cranberry, cherry, raspberry with cloves, nutmeg, bay leaf and rose florals. The balance of super-fine tannin, juicy acidity and toasty oak is immaculate and gives a firm spine that the fruit can hang off. There’s also a seam of minerality that adds tang and tension in the palate. The finish has good length, but I have to mark down for that odd bouquet. 92pts
