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.

Devil's Corner Resolution Pinot Noir is a full bodied style of Pinot Noir showing blackberry, sour cherry and hints of cedar from the quality French oak. The wine displays a juicy fruit driven middle palate with a crisp savoury texture and fine grained tannins. Given the wines depth and structure it is well worth putting some away in the cellar and looking at it again in 5 to 8 years.

This wine has an intriguing, bright garnet hue, captivating on the nose with ripe cherry, wild strawberries and bramble notes. On the palate, the wine is rich and flowing with tantalising bready sweetness. Rich boysenberry flavours are supported by elegant French oak, lending spice and toasty notes. The finish is lingering and complex, bright with natural acidity.

Dog Point is responsible for some of Marlborough's best Pinot noir. This release has lifted aromas of dark cherries stone fruit and violets. The palate is rich and complex with a supple velvety texture.

This Pinot noir is the flagship from Two Paddocks an organically grown barrel selection from the estate properties. As in the vineyard, the wine is hand crafted using traditional methods including a 25% whole bunch indigenous fermentation and hand plunging. Maturation is in French barriques for 11 months, using a mix of older and new (25%) barrels.

This has been a leading light for Central Otago for Pinot Noir, displaying perfumed ripeness with piercing clarity; dark fruits of the forest dominate the aroma, underpinned by floral and spice notes. Red fruit aromatics are underpinned by cherry and Christmas cake spice while the palate is well textured.

Aromas of red fruits, violet and blackcurrants combine with black truffle and spice notes. Fine tannins add texture, complemented by ripe red berry characters and lovely integrated oak. Awards:

Rockburn Pinot Noir is a ripe, fleshy pinot noir with black cherry, blackcurrant and toasty oak flavours. Good concentration and a silken texture with powerful sweet fruit flavours driving a lengthy finish.

Aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Deep dark red core with black tinged edges and a dark red hue. Spicy red to dark cherry aromas mix with hints of stalky cedar, earth and meaty notes. On the palate generous dark cherry fruits are intertwined with strawberry, earth, spicy dried meat characters and dried herbs. Good flesh with slightly grainy tannins and a savoury medium length conclusion. Drink over the next 3-4 years. Alc. 13.5%

Looking to exploit the site’s unique location, the vineyard started redevelopment in 2009. Using a renownedFrench soil scientist, sampling revealed ground composition similar to the Rhone Valley and foothills of the French Alps, rich in minerals, nutrients and excellent water holding capacity. The focus shifted to high density planting Pinot Noir and Syrah vines and farming the vineyard organically (moving from 20,000vines to over 40,000). The project paid off, in 2016 The Ridge Block Pinot Noir 2013 was awarded the coveted IWSC international Pinot Noir of the Year, testament to the potential of this vineyard site Sitting below Fairhall Southern side valleys - carved by ancient glaciers, deep silt gravels within dispersed underlying light clays, free draining, top solid rich in organic matter 20-40cm rich in silt, 40-100cm layers of gravels rich in iron, great porosity and good moisture content. A dry Marlborough winter created some concern for the growing season. However, it was unnecessary as soil moisture levels were high enough to maintain exceptionally healthy vines through spring. In early December, warm average air temperatures helped ensure successful flowering. Timely rainfall in January and February ensured ideal fruit set and berry development. Dedicated yield and canopy management throughout the summer ensured balanced crops were maintained with light airy canopies that allowed dappled light and good air movement around the ripening fruit. Warm temperatures from February created the perfect ripening environment for flavour development. Overall vintage 2016 delivered fully ripe fruit with intense flavour and concentration. Minimal cold soak, followed by up to 25 days on skins. The fermentations were long and cool so as not to overly extract the tannin from the fruit.