From the category archives:

New Zealand

Herringbone Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008

September 15, 2011
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By now I need no convincing that New Zealand – or indeed, Marlborough, specifically – makes some of the best Pinot Noir, and therefore by my reckoning, some of the best wines, in the world. And so every time I now try a wine of that type from this region it’s almost a slightly nervy [...]

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Pinot Noir Wines From Central Otago and Wellington

September 7, 2011
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As the home nations travel to New Zealand this month and prepare to start their Rugby World Cup campaign, their supporters should ensure they make the time to sample some of the local red wine. England and Wales supporters in particular should make sure they take a break from the beer and try some of [...]

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Maori Point Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 from Pure Noir

May 27, 2011
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There’s something slightly different about this one – different from the other three NZ Pinot Noirs I’ve had from UK suppliers Pure Noir I mean. Upon opening and pouring the first few sips seemed ever so slightly fizzy, or carbonated. If it hadn’t smelled like a good Pinot Noir and tasted like one, I might [...]

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Terravin Pinot Noir 2008 from Pure Noir

May 23, 2011
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Terravin hails from the world-renowned region of Marlborough, where from what we see on supermarket shelves nowadays you only need to shake a stick or swing a cat to rustle a bunch of Pinot Noir grapes. Their distinctive logo establishes a wholesome feeling of family and tradition: generations walking hand in hand among the vines [...]

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2008 Te Hera Martinborough Pinot Noir from Pure Noir

May 20, 2011
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Martinborough is in the Wellington region of New Zealand‘s North Island - not to be confused with Marlborough, New Zealand’s biggest Pinot-producing region just across what I think is called the Cook Strait to the south. Te Hera is a typically kiwi, quality-driven, environmentally-aware vineyard and winery, the bulk of whose growth by far is made up of the [...]

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2007 Hinton Estate Central Otago Pinot Noir from Pure Noir

May 17, 2011
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It’s about time I tried a New Zealand Pinot Noir that really argued the case for this relatively young wine-producing nation’s ownership of the grape. Obviously nobody French will ever concede defeat on anything wine-related, and I’ve little doubt there are £100+ bottles of Burgundy in existance that are delicious beyond my wildest dreams, but [...]

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Pure Noir – the UK’s Only New Zealand Pinot Noir Wine Club: 20% Off Your first Order

May 16, 2011
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It’s a Pinot Noir lover’s dream come true. Pure Noir is a specialist wine club bringing UK wine-lovers the best-of-the-best of New Zealand Pinot Noir – therefore, some of the best Pinot Noir in the world, and, by extension, some of the best wine in the world. In fact, they’re “the UK’s only wine club [...]

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Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2008

December 23, 2010
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Some time ago I went to a wine and food pairing event at a Vietnamese restaurant in Battersea, South London. Red wine is not usually the first thing that pops to mind when thinking of your drinking choices to go along with Vietnamese cuisine. The old standbys of Riesling or perhaps a Pinot Grigio are more [...]

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Kim Crawford 2008 Marlborough Pinot Noir

October 28, 2010
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I’ve heard a lot of talk about New Zealand‘s Pinot Noirs. I gather the fashionable red grape is as much associated with the land of Hobbits and ground-dwelling-hedgehog-birds as is the equally well-thought-of white, Sauvignon Blanc. So, happy times for Kiwi vintners, who produce both grapes in abundance and both to celebrated standards. Marlborough is [...]

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Oyster Bay Merlot 2008

August 3, 2010
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Like their Sauvignon Blanc, Oyster Bay‘s Merlot is a staple on the top shelf of supermarkets up and down the country. It’s a couple of pounds more expensive than your average supermarket red and it’s a respected brand (self-proclaimed “leading winemaker” in NZ) from a respected wine-producing region –

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