New Zealand is proving to be a star performer when it comes to Pinot Noir. This is a fruit driven style exhibiting juicy cherry and strawberry fruit combined with subtle oak. The finish is smooth and soft.

Oakdene Petas Pinot Noir is garnet in colour, with an intense bouquet of cherry, spice, mocha and smoked meats, leading to sweet cherry, briar and hints of clove. The mid palate offers earthy cherry, plum notes, and some spice and whole bunch characters, firm tannins and a long finish. 15% whole bunches, wild yeast and matured in French oak puncheons (30% new) for 11 months bottled without fining and light filtration. Enjoy now or cellar for 5 to 9 years.

The grapes for the wines that carry the Mt Difficulty Bannockburn label are subject to two strict criteria: they are managed under the umbrella of the Mt Difficulty viticultural team and must be sourced from vineyards situated on the South side of the Kawarau River at Bannockburn. This Pinot noir displays lovely elegance and flow with striking precision and clarity. On the palate it kicks off with a supple dark berry entry, moving into a beautifully textured plush mid palate, after which fine elegant textural tannins frame fruit and acidity on a lengthy finish.

Organically grown grapes from Tasmania have yielded a complex Pinot Noir with dried strawberry fruit characters and a satisfying savoury palate. Elegant and enjoyable Pinot from an up and coming producer!

A great example of Tasmanian Pinot Noir, there is an exciting nose bursting with cherries. The palate is medium bodied and elegant, just as it should be.

Approachable, generous and flavoursome with a silken elegance. Berry fruits come to the fore with gentle dried herb notes in the background. Medium bodied, the palate is finely structured with lovely soft lingering tannins which integrate perfectly with the soft supportive acid and plush fruit.

Marlborough isn't only capable of producing Sauvignon Blanc, some fine examples of Pinot Noir are coming our too. None better than this excellent wine from Delta Vineyards. Extremely fragrant on the nose and packed with squeezed forest berries, oak, spice, and some herbal, thyme-like notes. The palate displays vibrant red fruit flavours balanced by silky, fine tannins.

Fulcrum is the fantastic new venture from Pinot Noir rockstar, William Downie and long time friend and colleague, Jason Searle. Wonderfully fresh and vibrant with varietal characters of plum and earthen spice, Fulcrum Pinot Noir continues to develop in the bottle and is simply a premium wine steal at this price.

Lethbridge are on the cutting edge of fresh and vibrant winemaking with Ray Nadeson at the helm. Winning praise and accolades across the country, Ray produces a Pinot Noir here that displays an intense bouquet of cherry and spice, which leads into a dark cherry, sweet earthy palate with its fine tannins.

Tasmania's east coast is Pinot territory and Spring Vale one of its best exponents; plum, bramble and lavender aromas, plush palate and silky tannins make this a standout.