89 points. The nose is somewhat dark with a good amount of complexity and lots of intriguing spicy, smoky tones mingling with sour red cherries, cracked black pepper, and very dark chocolate. The aroma almost smells like an old world syrah had been poured into the mix. On the palate there are lush, sweet raspberries and blackberries, pomegranate seeds, black pepper, and some soft cacao powder on the end. This wine is rich and refined, with a nicely complex, dark profile.

Pairing: This is the kind of pinot noir that can go with your bigger dishes like steak and grilled meats.

Source: What's Worth Drinking: "Post #1: A Tale of Two Islands: Tasting New Zealand Pinot Noir" (http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/04/19/ )