Many thanks to Chris Drummond from Anchorage Wines in Nelson who sent over three of his family vineyard’s wines for me to review: an Anchorage Pinot Noir 2009, Anchorage Sauvignon Blanc 2010 and Anchorage Chardonnay 2010. The Drummond Family planted their first vines in 2000 by the mouth of the Motueka River and have since expanded into  nearby areas such as Riwaka and Moutere, now producing high quality Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Viognier. Find out more by visiting their website: Anchorage Wines

I’ll review the Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc at a later stage but tonight I opened the Pinot Noir to taste and was pleasantly surprised initially with the colour: bright and clean but quite a dark cherry colour. In the nose there were hints of plum, cherries and those darker berry fruits such as boysenberries and black currants? On the palate it had nice velvety tannins, a very subtle touch of spice / oak  and a little bite from some acid still to soften and integrate a bit – good length and finish too. A nice example of Nelson Pinot…  I rate this wine 16/20 (80/100)