Mud House have asserted a reputation for Pinot Noir in a crowded New Zealand marketplace by proving excellent varietal and terroir driven examples like this Golden Terraces Vineyard Pinot Noir from Central Otago at some great prices. With lifted aromas of dark cherry and berry fruit with underlying notes of mocha and cinnamon giving way to a sumptuous palate of bramble and spice characters with considerable length.

This wine highlights the slightly cooler season with lovely perfumed dark red forest berries and cherry fruits along with a hint of dried herb, adding complexity. The wine has a sweet berry entry which displays these same characters in abundance. Lovely ripe textural tannins rise gracefully out of the mid-palate to finish the wine. These are balanced by the wines acidity and fruit, to produce a long fruit-driven finish.

The aromatics are alive with poached pear, guava, peach and spice. The palate is expressive with a textural mouth feel and great length of flavour. A classic natural acid line retains balance and structure, finishing with a light spice.

Opulent, flushed with pear juice flavour with sighs of orange blossom and citrus.

Dveri Pax's aim is to become the most important winery in Slovenia, farm sustainably and employ gentle winemaking processes to produce wines of finesse and freshness. From the cool climate of Slovenia comes this dry style Pinot Gris. Red apples and exotic spices dominate the nose, while retaining great freshness on the palate.

Kath Quealy pioneered Pinot Grigio/Gris styles and is undoubtedly the 'queen of Gris'; classic honey, mushroom, hay and wood smoke characters; richly textured, it finishes long and strong.

Nanny Goat Vineyard is the clear leader of the pack when it comes to affordable Central Otago Pinot Noir. Made in a fruit forward style with mounds of fresh berry fruit and intense lifted perfume notes of violet and blueberry. Still medium-bodied on the palate with soft, powdery tannin, this is a Pinot for the moment.

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.