Pond Paddock Pinot Noir 08

Pond Paddock Pinot Noir 2008 (18.5-/20), at 13.7% alc, fruit from Te Muna Road, Abel, 667, 114 and clone 5, 100% destemmed and aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. Medium deep, pale ruby colour, this had a lighter, less voluminous bouquet with very attractive, delicate soft red fruit and floral aromatics along with black tea and aniseed notes. A more delicate, shy and smaller-scale wine, all the componentry was in excellent proportion. Lovely subtle red fruits with aniseed, backed by supple tannins, all pointing to elegance. Enjoy over the next 5-6 years.   RC July 10

This is the passion of Canadians Jeff Barber and Christine Barnett who arrived in 1999 to establish 4.04 hectares of close planted vines on Te Muna Road. The 2008 Pinot Noir was made from hand-picked fruit, 4 clones: Abel, 667, 114 and 5, totally destemmed, given a 6 day cold soak and fermented to 13.7% alc. and aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. Jeff resists too much tannin extraction, and the style of Pond Paddock Pinots is one of supple elegance. Youthful ruby red in colour, the nose is a lesson in the ethereal beauty of the Pinot Noir grape with its stylish and elegant aromas of soft red fruits, florals and delicate spices. Beautifully fragrant, with aromatic lift the highlight here. On palate, the sheer suppleness and finesse of this wine is startling. Wonderfully gentle and softly textured, this has refined nuances of cooked red fruits, with floral and game elements. A wine of fine-grained features, exquisitely feminine in style, yet with an inner core. A gold medal winner at the 2009 Air N.Z. Wine Awards.  RC Dec 09

Related Reading...

What We're Drinking

Kieran Haslett-MooreTownshend ESB ...... more

A Taste Of Te Muna Road Pinot Noir

Excellent recognition for the wines of the Te Muna sub-region of Martinboroug...... more

Majestic Cuisine - Cantonese Magic

Situated at the Embassy Theatre end of Courtenay Place, Majestic Cuisine has become our first choice for Cantonese Chinese cuisine, especially after a... more

Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008 - A Great Vintage

Regional Wines conducted two tastings of a wide, but not comprehensive range of Martinborough Pinot Noir from 2008, a great vintage, to celebrate the ... more