Here's a picture of the world's highest vineyard, which the Colome wine tasted last night comes from. I'm drinking it again tonight: if anything, it has smoothed out a bit, with lovely bright, pure elegant fruit. Claes Lofgren, who took the picture (and kindly gave me permission to reproduce it here: see www.winepictures.com for more superb wine photography) informs me that it isn't just organic, but it's actually a biodynamic vineyard. A really interesting wine.

Tonight's other wine is quite different. It's a 1994 Central Otago Pinot Noir from the property of actor Sam Neill, called Two Paddocks. This New Zealand Pinot is brilliantly balanced, with dark cherry and red berry fruit complemented by lovely fine spicy notes, a bit of tannic structure and a sappy freshness. It's not a dark or big wine, but it's an authentic Pinot with plenty of personality (£15 Haynes, Hanson & Clark). This comes recommended, as do many other Central Otago Pinots, which I find have their own personality - they're not red Burgundy, but they seem, in an ethereal sort of way, to let Pinot Noir express something of the vineyard site (or am I just stuck in some sort of terroirist rut here?).