Score: 87/100
The newly-released 2013 Spy Valley Pinot Noir is sourced from the Johnson Estate and Outpost vineyards in Marlborough, New Zealand.
The grapes were hand-picked before being fermented in open vats, the traditional containers for fermenting Pinot Noir. Fermentation was let to start with ‘wild’ yeasts (no inoculation with selected yeasts). The wine was aged in oak barrels for 12 months.
Find out more with the full 2013 Spy Valley Pinot Noir technical sheet.
So what is this NZ Pinot Noir wine worth?
The answer is in the tasting notes:
Appearance: light-medium ruby red colour. Bright and shiny. A touch a purple.
Nose: very intense, extremely bright and lean aromas. Shiny red-berry fruit aromas: blackcurrant, blueberry accompanied with sweet spices. Just a touch of juicy herbaceousness, mellowed in Cointreau-like sweet citrus/orange notes. The whole is surrounded by leather and ash characters giving the nose depth and complexity, beyond the dominant fruit aromas.
Very clean, precise and appealing.
Palate: Dominated by acidity, complemented with ripe fruit notes and sweet spices that mellow it up. Herbaceousness more present than on the nose, as well as slight touches of oak flavors, vanilla. Tannins are quite soft, with a bit of a grip on the finish making it interesting. The finish feels quite hot.
Overall, the wine is aromatically very intense, and showcases an interesting array of aromas and flavours. The dominant red fruit and citrus aromas are bright and clean, making for an enjoyable wine even without food. Spices, herbaceousness and leathery characteristics complement the experience well, and ideally ask for being paired with food.
Drink now and within the next 5 years.
Awards & Accolades:
Silver Medal – Decanter World Wine Awards 2015
Silver Medal – Melbourne International Wine Competition 2015
4 Stars – Winestate Magazine
4 Stars – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
Read the full Spy Valley Producer Profile:
Learn more about Spy Valley Winery on their website Spyvalleywine.co.nz
Find this wine to buy online on Wine-Searcher.
Please let me know your thoughts