Most Recent Tasting Note:

Smooth and Earthy 1 Note

Most Recent Tasting Note:

85 points.

This wine had a light strawberry red color and a delicate viscosity. There was a lot going on on the nose, with a core of sweet, red fruit and multiple layers of just ripe strawberry, a faint rosemary character, a bit of paprika, and a curious shisha (the sweet, syrupy tobacco smoked in Hooka pipes) component. The taste is bright and fresh with cherry candy, then some soft woodsy, mossy tones, and a delicate herbal finish. This is a fairly straightforward pinot with pleasant brightness and a nice light to medium body, nothing spectacular but a well made, easy drinking and friendly wine.

Pairing: This would go great with anything from pork tenderloin to salmon (one of my personal favorite dishes with light pinots like this.)

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

Most Recent Tasting Note:

The new Oyster Bay Pinot Noir is still young, but it offers classic New Zealand cherry and red berry flavors. The nose reminds me of cherry tarts I've had in French bakeries. A bit tannic initially, it needs about 30 minutes to breath. This wine would do well to spend a couple of years in the bottle to soften a bit, but it is a really good wine that may turn out to be great over time... and the price is right at $12. Enjoy with salmon, pork, or turkey.

Most Recent Tasting Note:

• appearance: clear and very deep, with a strong ruby color.
• nose: average nose, with aromas of port, red twizzlers, raisins, and white pepper.
• palate: on the dryer side, with low acid and tannins. the body is very high, with flavors of port, black liqorice, and hints of caramel and clove. the length is below average.
• overall: *i had this wine after sitting out for a week, and it changed dramatically from when i first opened it, so this taste is based on that sitting.

it's a very different kind of taste. the port-like flavor is undeniable. the body is high, the length is weak though. the problem with this wine is that it's too one-dimensional, and i actually see that strong dimension overtaking all food with it. even drinking on its own is not so great.

• i give it an 85.

Most Recent Tasting Note:

• appearance: low intensity with a lemony-gold color
• nose: clean with a very pronounced nose, and aromas of gooseberry, freshly cut grass, honey, lemon, and white flowers
• palate: off-dry, with average acidity, low tannin, and an above-average body and length. it contains aromas of straw, melon, a hint of mango, and peaches for days.
• overall: a very crisp chardonnay. excellent nose, very aromatic and complex. nice acidity as well, along with a decent finish. this reminds me very much of their sauvignon blanc, though i think the s.b. is a bit better with more acidity and a bigger attack. it's still a very good wine.
• i give it an 88.

Most Recent Tasting Note:

• appearance: medium intensity, with a lemony color.

• nose: very pronounced, with armoas of gooseberry, freshly cut grass, honey, lemon, and white flowers.

• palate: off-dry, with average acidity and body, with flavors of straw, melon, hints of mango, and peaches for days. the length is average as well.

• overall: a very crisp chardonnay. excellent nose, very aromatic, and complex. nice acidity as well, and the body is decent with a nice finish. this reminds me very much of their sauvignon blanc, although i think the s.b. is a bit better with more acidity and a bigger attack. still a good wine.

• i give it an 87.