I first visited Martinborough just over eight years ago, and now I was back. Part of the Wairarapa, it has been an important region for Pinot Noir in New Zealand,…
Some Kiwi Pinot: Seresin, Astrolabe, Saint Clair, The Elder
I’ve been drinking a fair bit of Kiwi Pinot Noir of late. Here are a few notes of good bottles consumed. The Elder Pinot Noir 2014 Martinborough, New Zealand 14%…
New Zealand Pinot Noir: top examples from North Canterbury and Martinborough
Continuing with my trawl through the exciting New Zealand Pinot scene, here are some of my favourite wines from North Canterbury (which includes Waipara, Waikiri and the Cheviot Hills) and…
The 2013 Craggy Range Prestige wines: Le Sol, Sophia and Aroha
These are three remarkable wines. Craggy Range are very excited about the 2013 vintage in these two regions, and on tasting these wines it’s easy to show why. ‘In 2013…
The amazing Dry River Pinot Noir 2012
I am a Dry River fan. The wines – produced in small quantities and hard to obtain – have all the makings of a cult winery’s offerings, but they are…
Cambridge Road Syrah from Martinborough, New Zealand
From a small biodynamically managed vineyard in New Zealand’s Martinborough wine region, we have this, a supremely elegant and drinkable Syrah with the poise of a ripe Pinot Noir and…
Cambridge Road Pinot Noir 2011 Martinborough, New Zealand
This is a wine I like a lot. It’s from a small 5.5 acre (3 hectare) vineyard on the Martinborough terrace originally planted in 1986, and previously known as the…
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2011
This was the standout vintage of a recent 10-year vertical tasting of Pinot Noirs from Craggy Range’s Te Muna Road vineyard in Martinborough. It’s not a rich, dense, flashy Pinot,…
In Martinborough, with Palliser, Ata Rangi and Craggy Range
Three visits in Martinborough, on a Sunday where I could have been playing cricket. An English touring side with connections to the wine trade were playing a Kiwi side, and…