The Pinot Noir & Grenache Thread

[tielec]

Tielec,

Arrived this morning. Will let rest for a week and try. Looking fwd.

My thoughts are captured here.

 

[TheRealTMA]

My thoughts are captured here.

ta. Yes that's why I bought some.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Tasting notes here

Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

My last bottle from six pack I got at cellar door in 2014. Had one bottle each year enjoying the way it developed over the time. An excellent example of good Aussie Chardonnay.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[qaz]

Free Delivery @ My Wine Guy - don't forget they price-match (even less with $30 voucher):

• $44.99 GW95 2018 Garagiste Merricks Cuve Béton Pinot Noir
• $54.99 MB96 2019 Timo Mayer The Doctor Pinot Noir ($53 @ France-Soir)
• $69.99 CM(HWC)96, MB95 2013 Eastern Peake Pinot Noir OB Terroir
• $84.99 JS98, HH97, BC96, GW95 2017 Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir

I thought I would give it a go so ordered wine with the 2020 code. Now have been told that they cannot fulfill my order. Of course the 2020 code no longer works and free shipping offer has expired so I'll pass on carboot wines from now on instead of wasting my time.

Same - no Garagiste Cuve Beton for me - hope you asked for a replacement code?

 

[qaz]

Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016 + Alain Geoffroy Maurice Tremblay 1er Cru Beauroy Chablis 2016 = $119.98 ($59.99/bt) @ Qantas - ends today? - don't forget possible $50 off

 

[qaz]

Free Delivery @ My Wine Guy - don't forget they price-match (even less with $30 voucher):

• $44.99 GW95 2018 Garagiste Merricks Cuve Béton Pinot Noir

$37.40 @ Different Drop using HOME

• $84.99 JS98, HH97, BC96, GW95 2017 Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir

$68.73 delivered @ Langton's after free delivery and 20% Cashrewards - both end tomorrow - also besides previous picks:

• Bindi Dixon 2018 $48.27
• Faiveley Mercurey Clos du Roy 1er Cru 2016 - GW/JS94, AM90-92 - $49.09

 

[qaz]

As with chardonnay, various Dan Murphy's stores are rationalising their pinot range due to new localised planograms - don't forget 8% Cashrewards ends tonight, and about Australia Post parcel collect:

Unfortunately I missed out on 2017 Gembrook Hill (CM(WF)96) for $33.78, but you can use JD Cellars' $48.90 to price-match/beat at Dan's or Different Drop's $50

Dan's clearance continues with new wines reduced, the highlight being Lethbridge 2017 for $33.20 - however at Parkdale, besides champagne, before discounts:

• Lethbridge 2017 - MB/SC(HWC)95, CM(WF)94, NS93 - $19
• Gembrook Hill 2017 - CM(WF)96, JH95 - $28

To maintain clearance prices, don't buy store stock (in-store/click+collect), as when that's gone, so is the clearance price - instead, deliver to Parcel Collect at the store's nearest post office (Parkdale LPO here)

In case anyone's interested, my favourite/biggest/best buys of the 2017 vintage have been Bay of Fires, Felton Road Bannockburn, Hoddles Creek, Lethbridge

 

[ab9898]

Dan's clearance continues with new wines reduced, the highlight being Lethbridge 2017 for $33.20 - however at Parkdale, besides champagne, before discounts:

• Lethbridge 2017 - MB/SC(HWC)95, CM(WF)94, NS93 - $19
• Gembrook Hill 2017 - CM(WF)96, JH95 - $28

Hi qaz

I'm keen on both of the above, but don't understand how to access this pricing, other than going to the Parkdale store (which might not be regarded as essential right now)... Is there a way to get this price transferred to another store/LPO? Very grateful for your help, as always.

Edit - all good, I think I have figured it out with your very helpful hyperlinks. Thanks!

 

[ab9898]

Incidentally, this "Under Wraps" 2017 Geelong pinot appears to be the Austins and Co pinot - JH92 - $12.90

 

[Jczer000]

This may be a little off topic but why is Central Otago (and to a lesser extent the wider NZ) pinot always so weighty, dark and fruit forward.

I would expect this to be cooler climate that most of AUS pinot. However, a reigon like Yarra Valley tends to more iften produve more light, precise and savoury pinot. (Btw I really enjoy both styles and love the contrast).

Is this a stylistic approach from the wine makers, the fruit or something else (e.g. US Export focus) entirely?

 

[JohnM]

This may be a little off topic but why is Central Otago (and to a lesser extent the wider NZ) pinot always so weighty, dark and fruit forward.

I would expect this to be cooler climate that most of AUS pinot. However, a reigon like Yarra Valley tends to more iften produve more light, precise and savoury pinot. (Btw I really enjoy both styles and love the contrast).

Is this a stylistic approach from the wine makers, the fruit or something else (e.g. US Export focus) entirely?

Good question and stuffed if I know the answer. But I very much like that plush style - and the somewhat more earthy and robust, yet still full, Martinborough style. Similarly Willamette Valley in Oregon, and Valle de Uco and Salta (correction: Neuquen) in Argentina.

 

[TheRealTMA]

This may be a little off topic but why is Central Otago (and to a lesser extent the wider NZ) pinot always so weighty, dark and fruit forward.

I would expect this to be cooler climate that most of AUS pinot. However, a reigon like Yarra Valley tends to more iften produve more light, precise and savoury pinot. (Btw I really enjoy both styles and love the contrast).

Is this a stylistic approach from the wine makers, the fruit or something else (e.g. US Export focus) entirely?

As JohnM has said, that's quite a complicated topic. It's a combination of climate, terroir, very poor soils (some of the vineyards such as Felton Road and Mount Difficulty the landscape looks more like the US badlands - no one wanted the place before the vintners came along) and , high UV giving thicker skins plus clone selection and vineyard management. Enthusiastic vintners with new modern techniques, many use whole bunch ferments which adds the green strong tannins.

I find the original ones were the best and some are now becoming a little too sweet. But others are far more knowledgeable and erudite than me!

Start here

Central Otago – Tim Atkin – Master of Wine

timatkin.com

Central Otago – a serious producer of cheerful Pinot

www.jancisrobinson.com

CENTRAL OTAGO, New Zealand - PINOT PALOOZA

www.pinotpalooza.com.au

Elsewhere this NZ Pinot produced by Giant Steps (Yarra Valley) is discussed.

2018 Giant Steps TOSQ Vineyard Pinot Noir Special — Giant Steps Yarra Valley

www.giantstepswine.com.au

Recommended. A lovely wine grown from vineyards in the Pisa Range district. Good wine at a good price.

 

[Jczer000]

As JohnM has said, that's quite a complicated topic. It's a combination of climate, terroir, very poor soils (some of the vineyards such as Felton Road and Mount Difficulty the landscape looks more like the US badlands - no one wanted the place before the vintners came along) and , high UV giving thicker skins plus clone selection and vineyard management. Enthusiastic vintners with new modern techniques, many use whole bunch ferments which adds the green strong tannins.

I find the original ones were the best and some are now becoming a little too sweet. But others are far more knowledgeable and erudite than me!

Start here

Central Otago – Tim Atkin – Master of Wine

timatkin.com

Central Otago – a serious producer of cheerful Pinot

www.jancisrobinson.com

CENTRAL OTAGO, New Zealand - PINOT PALOOZA

www.pinotpalooza.com.au

Elsewhere this NZ Pinot produced by Giant Steps (Yarra Valley) is discussed.

2018 Giant Steps TOSQ Vineyard Pinot Noir Special — Giant Steps Yarra Valley

www.giantstepswine.com.au

Recommended. A lovely wine grown from vineyards in the Pisa Range district. Good wine at a good price.

Brilliant. Exactly what I was after. Some good bedtime reading material there

 

[TheRealTMA]

Brilliant. Exactly what I was after. Some good bedtime reading material there

All you need is some bottles of NZ pinot to accompany it now!

 

[jrod]

There’s some good value NZ pinot around too, eg Pencarrow and Mysterious Diggings are both good examples.

 

[StevoQFtraveller]

This may be a little off topic but why is Central Otago (and to a lesser extent the wider NZ) pinot always so weighty, dark and fruit forward.

I would expect this to be cooler climate that most of AUS pinot. However, a reigon like Yarra Valley tends to more iften produve more light, precise and savoury pinot. (Btw I really enjoy both styles and love the contrast).

Is this a stylistic approach from the wine makers, the fruit or something else (e.g. US Export focus) entirely?

A number of reasons may account for this. Certainly, there are differences in the clones used in Central Otago compared to Eastern Australia, with the Burgundian varieties being favoured in NZ. Also there is less disease pressure in that part of NZ due to very cold winters and warm dry summers, so it is possible to keep the grapes on the vines longer, which will deepen the concentration of flavours within the grapes.

 

[drron]

Sometimes there are differences in pinots from the same vineyard.One such is Barringwood vineyard a bit out of Devonport.Their Mill Block Pinot I was told was the same clone as their everyday pinot but comes from a different block of the vineyard on the other side of the hill.A much more complex and enjoyable wine than the other.Unfortunately every time I have tried to visit the vineyard in the last 3 years it has been closed.

Barrinwgood Estate Pty Ltd - Wines - Red

www.barringwood.com.au

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sometimes there are differences in pinots from the same vineyard.One such is Barringwood vineyard a bit out of Devonport.Their Mill Block Pinot I was told was the same clone as their everyday pinot but comes from a different block of the vineyard on the other side of the hill.A much more complex and enjoyable wine than the other.Unfortunately every time I have tried to visit the vineyard in the last 3 years it has been closed.

Barrinwgood Estate Pty Ltd - Wines - Red

www.barringwood.com.au

The clone provides the gross flavour characteristics (subject to terroir) but it's not unusual to get flavour profile differences in the same vineyard using the same clones. Slightly different "terroir" and changes in soil types and chemistry, sun exposure, water table, plus different microflora and across the one vineyard.

 

[Steady]

Sometimes there are differences in pinots from the same vineyard.One such is Barringwood vineyard a bit out of Devonport.Their Mill Block Pinot I was told was the same clone as their everyday pinot but comes from a different block of the vineyard on the other side of the hill.A much more complex and enjoyable wine than the other.Unfortunately every time I have tried to visit the vineyard in the last 3 years it has been closed.

Barrinwgood Estate Pty Ltd - Wines - Red

www.barringwood.com.au

I’m a fan of their Mill Block PN but the CD is now hopeless

 

[drron]

Over the Easter weekend I have started my testing of Tasmanian Pinots.So the first 2.
..

Now this was a little light.Nice easy drinking but no wow factor for me.

..

I liked this one.much fuller body,darker colour and very good drinking.Went very well with my wallaby massaman curry.
Likely to get another one.

Now these wines were picked because of my 50 years experience of cellaring wines.
Hinton Bay picked because Hinton was the cricket team I played for.
Mapleton obviously as it is a town in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
The third one is Hughes and Hughes.Picked in memory of an afternoon with Merv in the West Indies in 2007.