Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter 8-1

Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter
Volume 8, Issue 2 June, 2011 Circulation 17,500 Wineries, Retailers, Restaurants, and Wine Lovers		Martinborough, NZ Pinot Noirs pat@pinotnoirs.com www.pinotnoirs.com

Patty's Pinot Closet publishes this newsletter on the enjoyment and appreciation of Pinot Noir. We welcome you to enjoy the newsletters and to share them with others. You can find past newsletters at www.pinotnoirs.com

Each newsletter covers a different Pinot Noir growing area in the world. Areas covered include California, Oregon, British Columbia, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and France. You can find past newsletters at www.pinotnoirs.com

If you cannot see the links or images in this e-mail, Click Here or cut and paste this URL into your browser's address field: http://www.pinotnoirs.com/newsletters.html

New Zealand map

Martinborough
NZ

Located in the Southeastern corner of New Zealand's North Island, Martinborough produces intense, unique Pinot Noirs. Wairarapa/Martinborough contains about 14% of New Zealand's Pinot Noir plantings. Those wines can be described as having dark fruit flavors, savory notes and denseness.

Martinborough Food, Wine & Accommodations

Vynfields Antipasto Platter

The town of Martinborough radiates out from a town square, with an old Victorian hotel and bar on one corner. Main Street contains a few small cafes and many of the wineries serve food. We enjoyed many wonderful meals that would have made a Gourmet proud.

Food

Vynfields Organic Winery for Lunch.

I enjoyed one of the loveliest luncheons of my life at Vynfields Organic Winery in Martinborough. We sat under an arbor outside their lovingly restored Victorian home/winery. Along with samplings of their organic wines we enjoyed their incredible Antipasto Platter. Besides being delicious, the platter was beautiful. The platter contained Salmon, Wild Boar and Juniper Terrine, Artichoke, Hummus, Roasted Peppers, Avocado, Broccoli, Beets, Olives and more.

Recipes

While in NZ I enjoyed their grass-fed venison. I especially enjoyed it when served with Pinot Noir Sauce or Gravy. On returning to the US I prepared a Rack of grass-fed NZ Venison (ordered from D'Artagnan.com) with a Pinot Noir Gravy. My guests all exclaimed it was the best piece of meat they had ever eaten.

Roasted Rack of Venison with Pinot Noir Gravy
yield: Serves 6
This very lean meat toughens and develops a strong flavor if overcooked. Therefore, serve venison rare to medium for the best results.

one 8 to 11 rib (3 to 4 pound) rack of venison, halved to form two 4 to 6 rib racks and any tough membranes trimmed

vegetable oil for rubbing the venison

1/2 cup beef broth

1/2 cup Pinot Noir

1/2 cup water

1 Tbsp juniper berries (available in the spice section of supermarkets), crushed lightly

2 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

1/3 cup dried cherries

1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar

Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Pat the venison dry, season it with salt and pepper, and rub it generously with oil. Heat a large heavy skillet over high heat. In it sear the venison on all sides.

Stand the venison rack in the middle of a large roasting pan, allowing the bones to rest together. Roast the venison in the middle of the oven for 23 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 125°F., for rare meat.

Transfer the racks to a platter and let them stand, covered loosely with foil, for 15 minutes. To the roasting pan add the broth, the wine, the water, and the juniper berries and simmer the mixture, scraping up the brown bits, for 5 minutes.

Strain the mixture through a fine sieve set over a small saucepan, whisk the cornstarch mixture, and add it to the saucepan with cherries, vinegar, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer gravy, whisking, for 5 minutes. Cut the venison into individual chops and serve with the gravy.
Um-Um good! Roasted Rack of Venison with Pinot Noir Gravy

Roasted Rack of Venison with Pinot Noir Gravy

Wendy Campbell's French Bistro in Martinborough

Restaurants

We enjoyed a wonderful restaurant while in Martinborough called Wendy Campbell's French Bistro. With a very casual atmosphere, the bistro served amazingly good food.

Accommodations

For an extensive list of hotels, B&Bs and cottages to rent in Martinborough see: http://www.martinborough.com

Peppers Martinborough Hotel
www.martinboroughhotel.co.nz/

Located right in the middle of Martinborough, the Martinborough Hotel boasts eclectic rooms, a first rate restaurant and a great bar.

Vynfields Organic Winery
www.vynfields.com

Vynfields Cottage -- a self-contained vineyard cottage with cedar hot tub under the stars.
Vynfields Villa - a romantic villa covered in wisteria, roses and grape vines

Peppers Martinborough Hotel

Farmer's Market

Things To Do In Martinborough

We attended the Farmer's Market held in the town square. I bought a hat and enjoyed a Venison Burger.

For more information on restaurants, accommodations, and things to do in Martinborough go to
www.martinborough.com

Pinot Noir Festivals

Australian Wine Festivals

8 – 16 Oct 2011 –– October Pinot Week Peninsula Pinot Noir Dinners, Pinot Noirs by the Glass, regional tastings, Wine & Food partnerships. www.mpva.com.au
TBD Jun 2012 –– Winter Wine Weekend, Vignerons welcome visitors to warm Cellar Doors this Winter to taste new release wines, visit old favorites and to experience the seasonal offerings of the region. www.mpva.com.au
TBD Mar 2012 –– Peninsula Piers & Pinots, Mornington Peninsula Vignerons showcase their Pinot Noirs with matched food and live music www.mpva.com.au
TBD Jan 2013 –– MPVA Pinot Noir Celebration, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia www.mpva.com.au

British Columbia Wine Festivals

8 – 17 July 2011 –– Okanagan Summer Wine Festival, Okanagan Valley, BC. www.owfs.com
30 Sept – 9 Oct 2011 –– Okanagan Fall Wine Festival, Okanagan Valley, BC www.owfs.com
18 – 22 Jan 2011 –– Okanagan Winter Wine Festival, Okanagan Valley, BC www.owfs.com
4 – 13 May 2011 –– Okanagan Spring Festival, Okanagan Valley, BC www.owfs.com

New Zealand Wine Festivals

20 Nov 2011 –– Toast Martinborough, Martinborough, New Zealand. New Zealand's Premier Wine, Food and Music Festival www.toastmartinborough.co.nz
26 – 28 Jan 2012 –– Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration, Central Otago, New Zealand. www.otagowine.com/otagowine/events.html

US Wine Festivals

7 – 10 Jul 2011 –– Central Coast Wine Classic, Avila Beach Resort, Avila Beach, CA www.centralcoastwineclassic.org
5 – 7 August 2011 –– West of West Wine Festival, Occidental, CA First-ever event celebrates West Sonoma Coast wines www.westofwestwine.com
12 – 14 August 2011 –– Wine & Fire. Sta. Rita Hills Winegrowers Alliance casual weekend of tastings and open houses www.staritahills.com
13 Aug 2011 –– Winemaker's Celebration, Monterey, CA www.montereywines.org/winemakers_celebration.php
2nd & 4th Tuesdays through August –– Fairmont Hotel, San Jose Winemaker Tuesdays. Winery representatives pour their wine from 5 pm - 7 pm in the Lobby Lounge. The wines are available the following week in The Lounge and Pagoda Restaurant. Full bottle prices are offered at a 50% discount during tasting events. www.scmwa.com
Oct 2011 through May 2012 –– Shadowbrook Restaurant Winemaker Wednesdays. 5 - 8 p.m. Features two to four wines from a Santa Cruz Mountains winery, offered by the bottle or glass. www.scmwa.com
23 Oct 2011 –– Pinot on the River, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, CA www.pinotfestival.com
8 Oct 2011, 1–4 pm –– 2011 Santa Barbara County Celebration of Harvest, Rancho Sisquoc Winery, Santa Maria. www.sbcountywines.com
11 – 12 November 2011 –– ¡Salud! Oregon's Pinot Noir Auction, Oregon's top Pinot Noir producers unite to provide much-needed healthcare outreach and services to seasonal vineyard workers and their families. This two-day event is a rare opportunity to preview the 2009 vintage, bid on unique Pinot Noirs created especially for ¡Salud!, and other exciting auction lots. www.saludauction.org
TBD November 2011 ––The Great Wine Escape Weekend 2011, Various locations throughout Carmel, Carmel Valley, Monterey and Salinas. www.montereywines.org
TBD November 2011 ––Pinot Days, Chicago – Navy Pier www.pinotdays.com
TBD Jan 2012 –– Pinot Days Southern California, Santa Monica, CA www.pinotdays.com
11 Jan 2012 –– Pasadena Pinot Fest www.pasadenapinotfest.com
TBD Feb 2012 –– Pinot Noir Summit, San Rafael, CA. One of the best Pinot Noir events in the world, returns to the Bay area for it's 9th year. www.affairsofthevine.com/pn_summit_8.php
2-4 Mar 2012 –– World of Pinot, Shell Beach, CA www.worldofpinotnoir.com
TBD Apr 2011 –– Santa Barbara County Vintner's Festival. Lompoc CA The festival features the wines of their 100+ members of the Association, live and lively music, a silent auction and wine country cuisine by the area's finest chefs. www.sbcountywines.com
TBD Apr 2011 –– Dundee Hills Appellation Passport Tour, Dundee, OR www.dundeehills.org/passport.htm
12 – 15 Apr 2011 –– Pebble Beach Food & Wine, Pebble Beach, CA. The Premier Epicurean Lifestyle Event in the Country. www.pebblebeachfoodandwine.com
31 Mar – 1 Apr 2012 –– Pinot Paradise – Includes Pathway, the Technical Session, & VIP Grand Cruz Tasting! www.scmwa.com
TBD May 2011 –– Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival, Anderson Valley - Philo, CA www.avwines.com
TBD May 2011 –– SLH Winegrowers Gala and Tasting, Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County, CA www.santaluciahighlands.com
3 Jun 2012 –– Pinot & Paella Cook-Off, Templeton Community Park, Paso Robles, CA www.pinotandpaella.com
TBD Jun 2012 –– Pinot Days, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA www.pinotdays.com

Click Here for a complete list of Pinot Noir Wine Festivals. If you have a Pinot Noir festival you would like to add send a note to pat@pinotnoirs.com

Martinborough Pinot Noir
www.winesfrommartinborough.com

The Wairarapa Wine Region contains the Martinborough sub-region located at the lower right-hand corner of New Zealand's North Island, approximately one hour north-east of Wellington. www.wairarapawines.co.nz

The Martinborough area produces some of NZs and the worlds best Pinot Noirs. Accounting for only one percent of New Zealand's wine production, Martinborough has a boutique Burgundian style.

Grapes in the Martinborough area ripen slowly because summer days rarely exceed 30° centigrade (86 Fahrenheit). This allows the grapes to ripen very slowly and to develop pure, powerful fruit characters with finely textured tannins. The rainfall averages about 700mm per annum (27.6 inches) with very stable weather patterns during autumn.

In Martinborough they grow many Pinot Noir clones including one called "Abel" -- purported to be propagated from La Tache cuttings. Other clones include the UCD 5 Pommard and the Dijons.
The Martinborough Terrace contains old stony alluvial soils.

Most of NZ's wines are bottled with screwcaps.

New Zealand Winegrowers have a growing commitment to Sustainable, Organic, and Biodynamic winegrowing.

New Zealand Winegrowers established "Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand" in 1995 as an industry initiative. Wine growers from all the grape growing regions adopted this initiative. In 2002 they adopted winery standards that further substantiated the industry commitment to sustainable production. The organization currently boasts approximately 1000 grower members and 700 winery members.

Craggy Range Pinot Noir Vines

The Organic Winegrowers New Zealand (OWNZ) dedicates itself the production of organic wines. In the 2011 vintage over 1400 hectares (282 acres) of vines on 112 vineyards (over half of which are fully certified organic, with the rest certified in conversion to organic production) are harvesting organic grapes.

Many winegrowers are also becoming biodynamic. Wikipedia defines Biodynamic agriculture as "a method of organic farming that treats farms as unified and individual organisms, emphasizing balancing the holistic development and interrelationship of the soil, plants and animals as a self-nourishing system without external inputs insofar as this is possible given the loss of nutrients due to the export of food."

Martinborough Wineries

Alana Estate
www.alana.co.nz

Ian and Alana Smart started Alana in 1993 with 17 hectares (42 acres) of land on the north edge of the Martinborough Terrace. They produced their first vintage in 1997.

They hand pick and sort the grapes. Then they hand craft the wine in their gravity fed winery which gently handles the fruit.

The winery also includes a beautiful terraced area for corporate functions, weddings or a place for wine lovers to enjoy a cheese platter and a glass of wine.

Alana wines are distributed world wide. Fortnum and Mason in the UK selected Alana Estate wines as their house wines.

Ian Smart of Alana Estate

Paton, his wife Phyllis Pattie of Ata Rangi

Ata Rangi
www.atarangi.co.nz

Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and Clive's sister Alison own and manage Ata Rangi. Clive started Ata Rangi in 1980 when he planted 12-acres at the edge of the Martinborough village.

Pinot Noir 2010 awarded Ata Rangi the inaugural "Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa" (Great Growth or Grand Cru) of Aotearoa (New Zealand) for their Pinot Noir.

Helen Masters, Ata Rangi's Head Winemaker, worked at Ata Rangi right out of high school. She returned to college and after graduation she worked back to back vintages in Marlborough, Oregon, California and Central Otago before returning to Ata Rangi in 2003.

Larry McKenna at Escarpment

Escarpment
www.escarpment.co.nz

Larry & Sue McKenna and Robert & Mem Kirby (of Australia's Village Roadshow) established Escarpment Vineyard in 1999 as a joint business venture. They located their 24 hectares (59 acres) on the alluvial gravel banks of the Huangarua River just 5 kilometers (8 miles) east of Martinborough.

Pinot Noir represents 70% of their production with the majority of those grapes coming from their own vineyards.

The warrior, Kupe (the Polynesian voyager who discovered New Zealand), provides the inspiration for the vineyard's distinctive brand and logo.

In 1986 Larry became CEO/Winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard. From 1986 to 1999 he grew this company from 20 to 160 tons. A 1998 Martinborough Reserve Pinot Noir from New Zealand ranked First in a World Pinot Ranking held on March 15, 2011 in Pasadena California. At $80 a bottle the Martinborough Reserve beat out a 1990 DRC La Tache at $5500 a bottle. The ranking included 20 Pinot Noirs from France, California, Oregon, Australia, and New Zealand.

Wine writers and authorities often refer to Larry McKenna as the 'Godfather of Pinot Noir', a Pinot Noir 'legend', and 'maestro'.

Schubert

In 1998 Kai Schubert and Marion Deimling established Schubert Wines. They both graduated from Geisenheim University Viticulture & Oenology in Germany.

They worked and searched in Oregon, California, Australia and parts of Europe looking for a place to establish a Pinot Noir vineyard. New Zealand's Martinborough (Wairarapa) region won their hearts. In 1998 they purchased two sites in the area.

With the smaller site already planted in vines they developed the bigger property with vines in 1999 and 2000. They closely planted in the traditional, European style. They export wine to approximately 25 countries.

Kai Schubert under the beautiful arbor at Schubert Winery

John Douglas of Te Hera Showing Off the Alluvial Gravels

Te Hera

John Douglas and his family started planting vines in 1996 and finished in 2002 with 12 acres of Pinot. They planted their vineyard on Te Muna Road to be followed by wineries such as Escarpment and Craggy Range.

The Maori often undertook heroic voyages in difficult conditions to reach these shores. Te Hera, The Sail in Maori, represents these journeys.

About my scores: I believe that no one gains by embarrassing someone or something, be it my husband, my children, someone’s wine, a co-worker, a subordinate, an enemy or a friend. I therefore, try to never criticize a person or a thing. I believe in keeping my life and surroundings positive. So, I rate all the wines I taste and then draw a cut-off line at 85 points. Who knows, maybe that wine that got an 84 was just having a bad day — why make it worse!

About Scoring: As I go around to Wine Events I hear a lot about Wine Scoring. At the “Women in Wine Seminar” many of the speakers (not all) seemed to feel that numerical scoring for wine was wrong — not the womanly way! They seemed to feel that some kind of “Wishy-Washy” system like good, bad, or ugly would be better. Having been formally educated as a mathematician I first like to see a numerical score. Second, I like to see a description where I can look for key words important to me such as Black Cherry, Dense, Earthy, etc. Third, I recommend to wine enthusiasts that they look for wine critics who like what they like and stick with them — it’s a three step formula for finding wines you’ll enjoy.

With that, here are my scores and descriptions for Pinot Noirs from Martinborough and a few from other areas of New Zealand.

Wines

Patty's Pinot Closet lists all the wines reviewed in current and past newsletters. We've included a price taken from the winery website or other retail sources if possible. They are included for relative comparison only, your price may be different. All prices in this newsletter are in US dollars unless stated otherwise.

Pinot Noir	Year	Price	Rank	Description
Alana Estate Martinborough	2001		94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of complex earthy black cherries. Tastes of dark fruit with fine tannins. Has aged beautifully.
Ata Rangi Martinborough	2003	45 US$	94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of complex earthy Burgundian black cherries. Tastes of dark fruit. Lovely medium finish.
Bell Hill Canterbury	2007	184 US$	94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas of earthy black currants. Well-balanced tastes of luscious dark fruit. Long finish.
Churton Wines Marlborough	2008	28 US$	94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Black cherry aromas with a velvety complex taste. Long finish.
Escarpment Martinborough Kiwa	2008	50 US$	94	Dense wine with a Black Cherry color. Aromas of black cherry, lavender and violets. Luscious round complex well-balanced wine with tastes of dark fruit. KIWA is the Maori God of the Pacific.
Escarpment Martinborough Te Rehua	2008	49 US$	94	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Black currant aromas. Well-balanced complex wine with earthy black currant tastes. Long round finish. Te Rehua is a star in the South Pacific at harvest time.
Escarpment Martinborough Pahi	2008	50 US$	94	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Complex Burgundia n aromas. Well-balanced complex wine with dark fruit flavors. Long after taste.
Escarpment Martinborough Kupe	2008	63 US$	94	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Well-balanced complex wine with a floral black cherry aroma. Silky mouthfeel with a long after taste. KUPE is the God of the Mauris.
Felton Road Bannockburn, Central Otago Block 5	2003	110 US$	94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Complex aromas of black cherries with herbal hints. Tastes of silky dark fruit. Long finish.
Villa Maria Estate Marlborough Taylors Pass Vineyard in the Awatere Valley	2007	41 US$	94	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black currants and mushrooms. Rich velvety taste of dark fruit. Very complex with well integrated oak. Long lovely finish.
Alana Estate Martinborough	2007	44 US$	93	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Intense black cherry aromas. Luscious round tastes of dark fruit. Long lasting aftertaste.
Ata Rangi Martinborough	2008	45 US$	93	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy black cherries and truffles. Well-balanced with tastes of dark fruit. Long finish.
Carrick Central Otago	2003	58 US$	93	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian nose with perfumy black cherry. Big bodied forest floor tastes. Lovely long finish.
Dry River Martinborough	2008	110 US$	93	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of cinnamon and black cherry. Tastes of luscious dark fruit with fine tannins. Long finish.
Vynfields Estate Martinborough reserve	2007	45 US$	93	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Big nose of black cherries and earthy violets. Tastes of earthy dark fruit. Medium length aftertaste.
Alana Estate Martinborough	2008	34 US$	92	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Black currant aromas with hints of lavender. Well-balanced wine with tastes of dark fruit and cinnamon. Fine tannins and a long aftertaste.
Ata Rangi Martinborough	2007		92	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black currants and spice with hints of floral. Tastes of luscious dark fruit. Long finish with hints of cinnamon.
Cobblestone Martinborough Te Muna Vineyard	2009	60 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of plum, blueberry and blackberry. Tastes of earthy rich dark fruit with good balance and a long finish. This is the first vintage from this California based winery.
Craggy Range Bannockburn, Central Otago Sluicing Vineyard	2007	37 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian, earthy, savory black currant aromas. Tastes of luscious dark fruit. Long finish.
Craggy Range Martinborough Te Muna Road Vineyard	2009	37 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian, earthy, black cherry aromas. Well balanced wine with tastes of dark fruit. Long finish.
Felton Road Bannockburn, Central Otago Block 5	2007	107 US$	92	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy plums and spice. Tastes of dark fruit and got better the longer it stayed in the glass. Lovely finish.
Felton Road Bannockburn, Central Otago Calvert Vineyard	2007	66 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas of blueberries and licorice. Tastes of dark fruit. Well-balanced with with good tannins. Long finish.
Julicher Martinborough	2008		92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas of black cherries. Well-balanced with with a luscious mouth feel of dark fruit.
Mt Difficulty Central Otago Target Gully Vineyard	2003	141 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of blackberries with hints of herbs. Tastes of silky dark fruit.
Muddy Water Waipara Estate	2007	34 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of Black currants and cherries with hints of flowers and herbs. Rich velvety taste of dark fruit. Long finish.
Muddy Water Waipara Hares Breath Vineyard	2007	50 US$	92	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of earthy black cherries and blackberries. Tastes of velvety dark fruit. Very long finish.
Quartz Reef Bendigo, Central Otago	2007	32 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries and violets. Tastes of dark red fruit. Long finish.
Te Hera Estate Martinborough	2008	31 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Earthy black cherry and blackberry aromas. Tastes of velvety dark fruit with fine grained tannins. Long finish.
Vynfields Estate Martinborough	2006	39 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas with savory hints. Luscious full mouth feel with a long finish.
Vynfields Estate Martinborough	2008	42 US$	92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Big black cherry nose with hints of violets. Tastes of earthy dark red fruit. Long aftertaste.
Wycroft Wairarapa	2006		92	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian black cherry aromas. Well-balanced with good tannins and tastes of dark fruit.
Craggy Range Martinborough Te Muna Road Vineyard	2003		91	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries with herbal hints. Tastes of velvety dark fruit.
Craggy Range Bannockburn, Central Otago Calvert Vineyard	2007	55 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries and plums with hints of vanilla and cinnamon. Well balanced dark fruit tastes. Medium finish.
Craggy Range Bannockburn, Central Otago Calvert Vineyard	2008	68 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of lavender and black cherries. Tastes of velvety dark fruit. Long finish.
Escarpment Martinborough	2008	36 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Lovely tastes of black cherry and spice. Complex well-balanced wine with savory dark fruit tastes.
Pegasus Bay Waipara	2004	36 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Plumy black cherries in the mouth. Medium body with a long finish.
Pyramid Valley Waikari, North Canterbury Grower's Collection, Eaton Family Vineyard	2008	50 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of lavender and black currants. Well-balanced wine with good tannins and tastes of dark fruit. Long finish.
Schubert Wines Martinborough Block B	2008	39 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Black cherry aromas with hints of violets. Good balanced wine with tastes of dark fruit.
Seresin Estate Marlborough Raupo Creek Vineyard, Omaka Valley	2007	44 US$	91	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries and licorice. Tastes of velvety dark fruit. Long finish.
Valli Vineyards Waitaki- North Otago Waitaki Vineyard	2008	49 US$	91	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas of black cherry and lavender. Well-balanced wine with dark fruit tastes and good tannins.
Alan McCorkindale Waipara	2007	29 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries with spice and herbal hints. Complex dark fruit tastes. Long finish.
Craggy Range Martinborough Aroha, Te Muna Road Vineyard	2007	37 US$	90	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of plum, blueberry and blackberries. Tastes of rich cherries. Nice medium finish.
Gladstone Vineyard Wairarapa	2008	26 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of herbs and cherries. Lovely cherry taste. Long finish.
Huia Vineyards Marlborough	2005	23 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Nose of gamey dark fruit. Medium body with dark fruit in the taste. Medium finish.
Mud House Central Otago	2008	27 US$ 21 NZ$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of dark berries, mocha and thyme. Tastes of Marachino cherries and crushed herbs.
Neudorf Vineyards Nelson Moutere	2005	62 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Perfumed black cherry and blackberry nose. Jammy flavors with a medium finish.
Palliser Estate Martinborough	2005	34 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Black cherry nose. Lovely tastes of dark fruit. Fine tannins with a long finish.
Palliser Estate Martinborough	2007	28 US$	90	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Plum aromas. Silky red fruit tastes with good acid. Long finish.
Peregine Central Otago	2007	31 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of cherries, raspberries and spice with hints of roses. Velvety raspberry tastes with a long finish.
Pyramid Valley Bannockburn, Central Otago Calvert Vineyard	2007	45 US$	90	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Burgundian aromas of earthy black cherries. Tastes of velvety dark fruit with well integrated tannins. Medium finish.
Rippon Wanaka, Central Otago Rippon Vineyard	2007	39 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries and rose petals. Tastes of silky dark fruit with a long finish.
Two Paddocks Central Otago	2007	42 US$	90	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black currant and blackberry. Tastes of dark fruit with fine tannins. Lovely finish
Brodie Estate Martinborough	2006	48 NZ$	89	Dense wine with a Damson Plum nose. Well structured with a long finish.
Burnt Spur Martinborough	2008		89	Medium intensity wine with a balack cherry color. Elegant floral aromas with tastes of red fruit. Medium finish
Johner Estate Martinborough	2007	24 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries. Tastes of lovely dark fruit.
Johner Estate Martinborough	2008	26 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Cherry aromas with tastes of dark fruit with nice tannins.
Julicher Martinborough 99 Rows, Te Muna Rd	2008	29 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a cherry color. Aromas of raspberries, cherries and strawberries with a soft, savoury and spicy complexity. Tastes of red fruit with soft tannins. Long finish.
Kawarau Estate Central Otago Reserve	2007	29 US$	89	Light cherry colored wine. Complex cherry tastes with a long finish.
Mt Difficulty Central Otago Roaring Meg	2008	24 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a cherry color. Aromas of cherries and raspberries with hints of herbs. Tastes of silky red fruit.
Neudorf Vineyards Nelson Moutere	2007	47 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Strawberry, raspberry, and spice aromas with herbal hints. Light silky taste with a medium acidic finish.
Schubert Wines Martinborough Marion's Vineyard	2008	37 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Raspberry aromas with silky red fruit tastes. Medium finish.
Valli Vineyards Central Otago Bannockburn Vineyard	2007	50 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of sweet cooked cherry pie. Full mouth feel of sweet fruit.
Valli Vineyards Central Otago Bannockburn Vineyard	2008	52 US$	89	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Strawberry and raspberry aromas in this well-balanced wine.
Ata Rangi Martinborough Crimson	2008	29 US$	88	Light intensity wine with a cherry color. Cherry aromas and tastes. Nice finish.
Dry River Martinborough Estate	2007	83 US$	88	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of plums and cherries. Tastes of silky red fruit with a medium finish.
Pyramid Valley Waikari, North Canterbury Grower's Collection, Eaton Family Vineyard	2007	53 US$	88	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Plum aromas with tastes of red fruit. Long finish.
Villa Maria Estate Marlborough reserve	2007	32 US$	88	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Plum and cherry aromas. Silky red fruit tastes with a medium finish.
Montana Marlborough T' Terraces Vineyard	2007	21 US$	87	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Plum aromas with tastes of silky red fruit.
Mount Edward Gibbston, Central Otago	2007	35 US$	87	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of raspberries and tastes of tart red fruit. Medium finish.
Seresin Estate Marlborough Home Vineyard	2007	44 US$	87	Dense wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of black cherries. Tastes of stewed strawberries.
TWR - Te Whare Ra Marlborough Estate Vineyard, Renwick	2007		87	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Aromas of raspberries and truffles. Raspberry taste with a long finish.
Wither Hills Marlborough Taylor River and Ben Marven Vineyards	2003	38 US$	87	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Cranberry aromas and tastes.
Wycroft Wairarapa	2008		87	Medium intensity wine with a black cherry color. Strawberry and raspberry aromas. Silky, lovely quaffing wine.
Pinot Gris	Year	Price	Rank	Description
Escarpment Pinot Gris Martinborough	2008	24 US$	91	Aromas and tastes of Bartlett Pears. Luscious round taste with lovely integrated acids.
Rose	Year	Price	Rank	Description
Vynfields Estate Martinborough Rose	2009	30 US$	91	Brilliant salmon color with aromas of quince. Well-balanced refreshing wine.
Schubert Wines Wairaiopa Rose	2009		90	Slight blush wine with a round lush mouth feel. Lovely raspberry nose.
Vynfields Estate Martinborough Peche de Noir	2009		90	Brilliant salmon color wine with a very Peach nose. Round in the mouth with stony, mineral notes.

Glossary:
Attack – - The first stage in tasting a wine, referring to how powerful the wine is and the sensations felt during the first five seconds of tasting.
Middle palate – - The second stage in tasting a wine. Ten seconds of tasting when the first sensations evolve and new ones develop. See Attack and Finish.
Finish – - The third stage in tasting a wine. Starting at 15 seconds, the aftertaste of flavors and the length of time those flavors can be sensed on the palate.

You can find more definitions in my wine glossary at www.pinotnoirs.com

Advertising Enquiries:
To inquire about advertising on Patty's Pinot Closet web site, please e-mail pat@pinotnoirs.com. There are now 17,500 passionate and engaged wine lovers who subscribe to Patty's newsletter.

Subsequent Newsletters:
To view the publication schedule for 2011 Click Here.

August	Paso Robles, CA
October	Mendocino, Anderson Valley, CA
December	Sonoma, CA
February	Willamette Valley, OR

Subscriptions:
Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter is free via e-mail and can be viewed or downloaded from my web site. To subscribe Click Here to send us an e-mail.

Patty's Pinot Closet Web Site:
Contains information on Pinot Noir such as newsletters (current and previous), Pinot Noir culture, wine making, serving, regions and wineries, storing, wine events, restaurants with good wine lists, and wine glossary. To access Patty's Pinot Closet Click Here.

Patty's Pinot Closet Newsletter for Friends:
If you know anyone who would like to receive a copy of Patty's Pinot Closet, Click Here to send us an e-mail.