Wine-Knows 2020 winery lunch...salmon screams for Pinot Noir!
The Kiwis (as the New Zealanders refer to themselves), long known for their explosive Sauv Blancs,
have another blockbuster for wine lovers.
Pinot Noir, now the country’s second most planted variety, is quickly moving
to the forefront as New Zealand is establishing an international reputation for
producing world-class Pinots.
Forty years ago, the finicky Pinot grape was not even
on New Zealand’s wine radar screen. The varietal
grows in cooler climates such as France’s Burgundy, California’s Central coast,
and Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This
South Pacific island nation’s maritime climate was a perfect match in many ways. Oh, yes, and it didn’t hurt that the soils
were found to be similar to Burgundy, the pinnacle for the Pinot cult.
In addition to weather and soil, the Kiwis have
another advantage with Pinot Noir. An
important part of New Zealand’s terroir is its intense light. This is due to a hole in the earth’s ozone
layer near New Zealand which permits stronger ultraviolet rays. While this is problematic for human skin, it creates
lusciously ripened grapes. Unlike
Burgundy, where capricious Pinot does not often ripen adequately, New Zealand’s
sunlight guarantees consistency.
Pinot Noir is currently grown in several wine
districts in New Zealand, however, the grape’s first success was in Martinborough---located just outside of the country’s capitol, Wellington, on the
north island. The south island’s
Central Otago wine region (home to the world’s farthest southern vineyards) is
also turning out some fabulous Pinots.
Wines made from Pinot Noir are typically
higher in price than other varietals. Here are three highly
rated Kiwi Pinots that offer amazing value for their $30 price tag:
1. Mount
Brown
2. Wild
South
3. Jackson’s
Vintage Widow
Ratcheting up to the $50-60 range, here are some Kiwi
Pinots that may cause you to re-think Burgundy:
1. Ata
Ranghi
2. Fromm
Clayvin
3. Felton
Road Calvert
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