Winery - Escarpment
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
At less than one-third the price of Escarpment’s single-vineyard wines, this is a great Pinot Noir value. Ripe cherries and plums make a full impression on the palate, and while the flavors could use a touch more complexity, the wine offers a big mouthful of authentic Pinot Noir.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Big and powerful without going completely over the edge, the 2008 Kiwa is a dark-fruited wine with hints of dried fruit and Christmas spices. It’s full bodied, rich and almost chewy in texture, yet finishes fresh and long.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Winemaker Larry McKenna’s Pinots tend to be more muscular and ageworthy than this example, perhaps the result of vintage conditions rather than any stylistic change. In any event, it’s a pretty, lighter-styled wine, with cherry fruit flavors enhanced by chocolate, caramel and touches of celery seed and spice. Silky and delicate in the mouth, but the flavors fade a little too quickly on the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is in winemaker Steve McKenna’s characteristic full-bodied, broad-shouldered style, with softer tannins than the 2005. It’s packed with dark, earthy fruit: cola, mocha and plum notes form the core, enveloped in plush, dusty tannins.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Since its debut in 2003, this has been one of New Zealand’s top Pinot Noirs, combining power, structure and complexity. Smoky and richly peppery at first, it turns more floral with aeration, and while it’s big in the mouth, it’s also silky in texture. The black cherry, plum, vanilla and spice flavors fan out on the long, layered finish. Drink now–2015.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Larry McKenna continues to show his masterful touch with Martinborough Pinot with his latest release. The 2007 is full-bodied and velvety, practically lush in the mouth, and filled with black cherry, plum, cola and sassafras flavors, with additional herbal complexity hinted at on the long, mouthwatering finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This wine, from a much-hyped enterprise led by winemaker Larry McKenna (formerly of Martinborough Vineyard), was somewhat disappointing. The delicate nuances of Pinot Gris are swept away by a tidal wave of oak—yummy-tasting French oak—but oak nonetheless.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Spicy, with muted apple and pineapple scents on the nose, but this wine is weighty and rich on the palate. Broad and mouthfilling, with a hint of bitter nut skin on the finish. A textural wine, more than a flavorful one, but enjoyable. Imported by Meadowbank Estates.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Starts with a dusty, savory, spicy bouquet, then unfurls ripe black cherry flavors on the palate. Shows some slightly animale and sous-bois notes on the finish. Firmly structured, this should age well for the next five years or so. Imported by Meadowbank Estates.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Impressively big, rich and well extracted, with bold black cherry flavors, but also complex hints of cinnamon and other spices, floral notes and a pleasant herbal tinge to the softly tannic finish. Approachable now, but probably better in 3–4 years. Just 500 cases produced. Imported by Meadowbank Estates.
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