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Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2011
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.20
The 2011 Ata Rangi pinot is an exercise in composure and restraint in a warmer vintage. This is a tight-wound edition...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2012
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.20
A cooler year expressed as a finer, fragrant pinot for Ata Rangi. Bright perfume, orange zest, pomegranate, light red...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2014
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.20
As ever this has an extra dimension and remains the high watermark for New Zealand pinot noir to be measured against....
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2015
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$59.94
A complex and giving wine that was born of a low-yielding, dry vintage, this is testament to the character of these...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2016
750ml - Case of 12
Bottle:
$67.06
TOP 100 NEW ZEALND WINES 2017 #5 - This has all the cherry and spice and perfume that defines this consistently...
Pre-Arrival
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2017
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$84.19
Really pristine fruit aromas here with such pure, ripe red cherries and roses, as well as gently earthy and spicy...
Pre-Arrival
Escarpment Pinot Noir Kiwa 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$79.92
Showing very well after this amount of time in the bottle with dried strawberry, bark and seaweed aromas and flavors....
Pre-Arrival
Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$61.20
A very complete wine with a complex and rich nose of red berries along with some distinct herbs, chocolate, flowers...
Pre-Arrival
Escarpment Pinot Noir Te Rehua 2013
750ml - Case of 6
Bottle:
$42.65
96-97 The most brooding of the Escarpment pinot noirs. This has a dark, minerally nose with graphite and slate that...
Ice Wine Pinot Noir Primitivo New Zealand Wairarapa Martinborough
Regularly described as being the grape varietal responsible for producing the world's most romantic wines, Pinot Noir has long been associated with elegance and a broad range of flavors The name means 'black pine' in French, and this is due to the fact that the fruit of this particular varietal is especially dark in color, and hangs in a conical shape, like that of a pine cone. Despite being grown today in almost every wine producing country, Pinot Noir is a notoriously difficult grape variety to cultivate. This is because it is especially susceptible to various forms of mold and mildew, and thrives best in steady, cooler climates. However, the quality of the fruit has ensured that wineries and vintners have persevered with the varietal, and new technologies and methods have overcome many of the problems it presents. Alongside this, the wide popularity and enthusiasm for this grape has ensured it will remain a firm favorite amongst wine drinkers for many years to come.
As with many European grape varietals, there is some debate regarding the precise origins of the Primitivo grape. Most people now agree that it probably came from Croatia, where it is still used widely in the production of red wine, and it known as Tribidrag. However, today it is a grape most commonly associated with the powerful red wines of Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, where the intense sunshine and brisk Mediterranean breezes produce grapes of remarkable character and balance. Primitivo is a dark grape, known for producing intense, inky, highly tannic wines, most notably the naturally sweet Dolce Naturale and the heavy and complex Primitivo di Manduria wines. Primitivo tends to be naturally very high in both tannin and alcohol, making it ideal for both barrel and cellar ageing, which brings out its more rounded and interesting features.
Primitivo is not the easiest grape to grow or manage, and it has had something of a difficult century. Indeed, by the 1990s, there was little interest in Puglian wines in general, and winemakers were neglecting their Primitivo vineyards and looking to other, more commercially viable varietals. However, the last decade has seen this grape come well and truly back into fashion, with new techniques and a heightened interest in native Italian grape varietals bringing Primitivo back into the spotlight. It is now widely loved for its intensity and ability to be paired with strongly flavored foods.
As with nearby Australia, New Zealand has over the past century proven itself to be a superb location for producing high quality wines in vast amounts, with much of the cooler regions of both islands being used primarily for vine cultivation. New Zealand wineries are notable for their enthusiasm in regards to experimentation, and for utilizing modern technologies and methods to make the most of the imported grape varietals which flourish in the rich, fertile soils and oceanic climate. In recent years, it has been the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wines which have gained the most attention, as a result of their smoky character and ability to carry the mineral rich nature of the terroir they grow in. Changing consumer interests have brought about a considerable rise in the production of organic and sustainable wines in New Zealand, of which again, the Sauvignon Blanc varietals are leading the way in regards to excellence, flavor and overall character.
Across the Cook Strait on North Island, Wellington, around the town of Martinborough, has a cool climate, long dry autumns and gravel soils - all precisely suiting the requirements of the finicky Pinot Noir vine. Wines from this area rival the finest Pinot Noirs, and their refreshing acidity gives them the potential for further aging. Wellington also produces some botrysized Riesling which can be very fine.