2014 Yealands Reserve Pinot Noir, Gibbston, Central Otago

Dark, deep, ruby-red colour with black hues, a little lighter on the rim with a hint of garnet. This has a very finely proportioned nose with elegantly concentrated and intense aromas of black-berried fruits, along with notes of liquorice, black plums, spicy oak, and black and violet florals. Medium-full bodied, the palate is tightly bound and concentrated with succulently sweet flavours of ripe black berried and plum fruits entwined with liquorice, spicy oak, violet florals and subtle herbal detail. The fruit richness is balanced by a very fine, powdery-textured, supple line and fresh, enlivening acidity. The palate has elegance and flows with excellent linearity, carrying seamlessly to a moderately rich, lingering finish of black fruits, liquorice and spices. This is a tightly concentrated, black-fruited Pinot Noir with liquorice and plum notes and a very fine-textured palate. Match with roast pork, lamb, beef and venison over the next 5-6 years. Pinot Noir fruit from the ‘Willowflat’ vineyard, fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged 12 months in 15% new and 50% second use French oak barriques. 18.5-/20 May 2016

18.5/ 20 Raymond Chan