A Central Otago Pinot with earthiness and depth to wallow in. The pristine cool-climate along with long sun drenched days allowed the fruit to ripen magnificently and produce aromas of deep red cherry, blackberry and cocoa. In the mouth the Squealing Pig is rich and generous with velvet like tannins and a wonderful, long finish.

It’s this trade-off of acid for tannin that makes pinot noir so food friendly. Pinot works well with salmon and ocean trout, their (Omega 3-rich) oiliness lapped up by pinots exuberant acidity and is the perfect red with soft brie-style and washed-rind cheeses, coming into its own with blue cheese. Try a soft Saint Augur cheese from the Auvergne with the Celsius Pinot Noir for a new flavour sensation.

Big, bold and full of all the black fruits, namely cherries, the Super Nanny is tempered with subtle notes of leather, spice and oak. Fine tannins and juicy acidity join forces to give it a long, clean finish. Super Nanny loves gamey red meats, so try it with duck or venison in particular.

A Central Otago Pinot with earthiness and depth to wallow in. The pristine cool-climate along with long sun drenched days allowed the fruit to ripen magnificently and produce aromas of deep red cherry, blackberry and cocoa. In the mouth the Squealing Pig is rich and generous with velvet like tannins and a wonderful, long finish.

Deep bright ruby red in colour, Devil's Staircase Pinot Noir is a dizzying fusion of firm fruit, tempting spices and alluring earthen notes. Each drop of this wine is bursting with flavours of black Doris plums, blueberries and bramble fruit that leave one wanting for more. It is characterized as a fruity, rich and full wine with finely balanced acid and firm tannins. The supple richness of Rockburn Devils Staircase Pinot Noir complements a range of savoury dishes. It can be tried alongside game birds such as quail, turkey and duck, or with a fillet of New Zealand salmon.

Central Otago Pinot's are generally more user-friendly than Burgundy; Rabbit Ranch is very soft fruit-forward style with soft tannins; best enjoyed young.

Rapaura Springs have turned plenty of heads with their current releases - the Reserve Pinot Noir is little short of jaw dropping. Drinking beautifully now expect a nose that's ripe, plush and jammed full of seductive fruit and spice smells, while textbook silky mouth-feel leads to a long fine finish. Drink it with five spice duck and rice.

Mt Difficulty is one of Central Otago's oldest and most prestigious vineyards. Having tamed the rugged region since 1992, Mt Difficulty produce wines of utmost character and charm. Their Roaring Meg Pinot Noir shows lovely perfumed blackberry and dark cherry fruits along with a hint of spice. On the palate the wine has a sweet berry character along with balanced, ripe textural tannins that rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine.

This has the intensity and depth of flavour the Central Otago region is becoming renowned for. Mocha spice, blood plums and dark cherry characters with a seamless, silky texture and fine tannins that will see this develop for several years yet. 'Making good use of the Gibbston, Lowburn and Bendigo sub-regions of Central Otago, this readily available, quality pinot noir is medium-bodied with rhubarb and cranberry fruit. These silky-on-palate fruit aspects are lifted with hints of graphite minerals.' - 92 Points, Courier Mail, Brisbane, 14 Sep 2013, by Alan Hunter.