JEAN-NOEL GAGNARD Cuvee L'Estimee , Chassagne-Montrachet

Central Otago is regarded as the best for NZ Pinot Noir. Ripe bouquet of satsumas, plum & meat. Firm soft tannins.

Every Gary Farr wine is a work of art, obsession and passion. Considered Australia's finest Pinot Noir winemaker this is his signature varietal from his home ground. No explanation should be required to make the decision to buy any Pinot from Mr Farr. Be warned - highly habit-forming.

The sleek and tension-filled middleweight flavors possess a relatively finely textured mid-palate that contrasts with the mildly rustic and austere finale. This impressively long effort could also use better depth but that is almost certain to develop. A quality Nuits villages.

A powerful bouquet with mixed ripe red fruits, Perrier Jouët Blason Rosé is a full bodied and structured wine with hints of violet and rose petal on the nose. Brings a pleasant savoury finish on the palate.

The Pinot noir vines used for this wine by Yeringberg were planted in 1969, 1970 & 1974. There are two clones the younger vines are MV6 and the older vines are known as the Rutherglen clone. All the fruit is crushed, de-stemmed and inoculated. Fermentation is generally rapid, with temperatures reaching 32°C. Ferments are plunged by hand every 8 hours. It is pressed as soon as the ferment is dry. The wine is matured in hogsheads, about 30% new, for about 18 months, with 2-3 rackings. Not filtered.

Made only in the best years, this wine is concentrated and intense. Powerful yet elegant, it has fine and silky tannins and a long finish. This wine is delicious now and will age beautifully for the next 10 years.