2018 Palliser Estate Pinot Noir, Martinborough

Elegant pinot noir with floral, plum, cherry, anise and spice flavours enhanced by an ethereal texture. A fragrant, feminine wine with impressive purity and a lingering finish.'

95 points Bob Campbell MW therealreview.com Jun 2019

Pours a rich, vibrant shade of ruby; limpid and pure. Smoky oak and wildflower top notes give way to a core of juicy red and black cherries, thyme, leather and plums. Meaty, herbal complexity calls to mind a deglazed skillet of lamb rack and rosemary, bouncing beautifully off the abundance of primary cherry fruit.

Tightly wound and linear in its youth, the palate grows with airtime, showing an attractive sappy, dried herb complexity laid out on a bed of finely grained, fairly firm tannins. The serious structure is offset by a delicate thread of black and red cherry; medium bodied yet generous, silky, smoky and spicy in the mid-palate. For such an elegant wine, the length is impressive, carrying off the trick of so many fine pinot noirs — power and presence, without heaviness.

This 2018 Palliser Estate Pinot Noir is a serious, food-friendly style of pinot noir, structured and complex, with lovely layers and depth.