2009 Te Muna Road Pinot Noir

100% Pinot Noir planted on upper Martinborough Terrace with unique rock and soil formation. The seventh vintage, 2009 will be remembered for a dry warm summer with a cool conclusion. The best clusters were left at thinning time on densely planted vines with low-vigour rootstocks. The grapes were hand-harvested, chilled to 8°C overnight, sorted, then destemmed into tank with some whole clusters for an eight to 17-day cold soak. All of the 43 different parcels were batch fermented with indigenous yeast. Hand-plunged then transferred direct to French oak barriques post ferment for 10 months (32% new). Winemaker Rod Easthope. Unfined and lightly filtered. TA 5.6 g/l, pH 3.52. Rather muted. Sweet start, dry finish. (JR)

Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2009 Te Muna Road Vineyard Pinot Noir has very pretty ripe cherry, red currant and violet aromas with a hint of underbrush. Medium-full bodied, it offers good concentration, refreshing acid and a medium level of silky tannins, finishing long and berry laced. Drinking now, it should cellar to 2015. Importer: Kobrand Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 490-9300

Bright medium red. Pungent aromas of raspberry, blood orange and spicy oak; quite Chambolle-like. Then juicy, savory and intense, with slightly clenched flavors of red fruits and spices. Finishes suave and long, but the firm tannins call for a couple years of patience. This may ultimately merit an outstanding rating.