Back in October, Paula Ramage and her son Jack presented the wines of Waitiri Creek to the New Brighton Wine Club where we tasted the Waitiri Creek 2009 Riesling, 2010 Pinot Gris, 2011Chardonnay, 2011 Harriet Rosé, the 2010 Drummer Pinot Noir and the 2007 and 2008 Pinot Noir. Being my last meeting with the members there, before moving to Blenheim, I was lucky enough to receive a couple of bottles of their 07 & 08 Pinot Noir to review, courtesy of the lovely Paula.

Glenys and I opened the 2008 for Xmas lunch and drank with a traditional roast leg of lamb, vege etc. and on Boxing Day we opened the 2007 so I could have a side-by-side tasting of the two wines which I review below. Both excellent wines and even better and more open the next day after opening when reviewed.

Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir Central Otago 2008
This wine was a light garnet colour in the glass, with dark cherry, earthy-mushroom forest-floor and floral notes in the nose. On the palate was a burst of fresh raspberries, plums and cherries underpinned by a herbal note, french oak and fine tannins contribute to a nicely textured / structured wine with a warm long finish – was superb with the lamb but needs more time with a suggested cellaring potential of 2-10 years. Alc/v 14% RRP NZ$50.00

Waitiri Creek Pinot Noir Central Otago 2007
The 2007 was a gorgeous deep black cherry colour in the glass, with a softer nose than the 2008 of plums, earth and mushrooms, but not as floral as the 2008. Huge rich cherries and luscious plums on the palate, with nicely integrated oak and grippy tannins giving some front of palate bite and a very fruit driven finish… a bigger but much more balanced than the 2008 and yet only half way through it’s cellarable life of 8 years.
Alc/v 14% RRP NZ$85.00

Two fantastic Pinot Noirs from Central Otago – I’d love to try these wines again in 2-4 years but alas we’ve finished them. Both wines have won a number of accolades, including Gold Medals, Five stars, Top 10 Cuisine and more and I can see why. Recommend you try them both as well as their wonderful whites…

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