2013 Central Otago Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir is closed and taut at this point, but interestingly and perhaps most pertinently, the wine is showing very little signs of aging. It is all graphite and enoki mushroom, pencil shavings and dehydrated orange peel. In the mouth, the fruit is dark and intense but not overflowing or flamboyant as one might expect. It doesn't lean on its fruit for its flavor at this point, and that makes for incredibly elegant drinking. I'd be inclined to leave this “a wee while longer,” as the New Zealanders say. 13.6% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(vinified with 24% whole clusters): Bright, dark red. Captivating floral lift to the slightly liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry, plum, orange zest and spices. Plush and sweet but with racy acidity giving definition and a firm edge to the lightly saline dark berry, spice and underbrush flavors. Finishes solidly tannic, brisk and persistent. With its combination of silky texture, slightly edgy acidity, slight reduction and serious tannins, this wine is a bit youthfully disjointed today and in need of a couple years of cellaring.
Fruit from 8 different parcels. 24% whole bunch, 22 days vatting, 22% new oak, TA 4.8 g/l, pH 3.7. Mid crimson. Lightly spicy, peppery, dark-red and black fruit and savoury herbal notes – stemmy but not green – to balance the fruit sweetness, maybe also a touch of blood (iron). More dark-fruited and savoury on the palate but still fresh and full of energy and life. The tannins are extremely fine but young enough to give a slightly chewy finish at the moment. You could enjoy this now but it would be a shame not to enjoy the increasing complexity that I would expect from a few more years in bottle. (JH)
Deep ruby-purple the 2013 Pinot Noir has a youthfully reticent, brooding nose with hints of black berries and plums plus underlying aged beef, chargrill, anise and lavender suggestions. Medium bodied, the palate reveals great ripeness packed into a relatively elegant package with a medium level of fine grained tannins – impressive texture in fact – harmonious acidity, and a good long finish.