2022 Taka K Bedford Estate Pinot Noir, North Canterbury

Light ruby. A cool and delicately perfumed nose with subtle aromas of reduction, crushed strawberry, raspberry and wild herbs. Not a showy wine but there is a quiet elegance to it. The palate is light and lively with juicy sweet umeboshi and red berry fruit, mouthwatering acidity and a lifted finish with powder-fine tannins. Immediate enjoyment here with accessible and plentiful fruit and a twist of savoury on the end. Appetisingly modern for mid-term 25 Jan 2024 Drink 2025–2032

92 points Stephen Wong MW therealreview.com

Taka K Bedford Estate Pinot Noir from North Canterbury is a vibrant, terroir driven expression of Pinot that captures the region’s distinctive mix of limestone rich soils, cool winds and long ripening seasons. The Bedford Estate vineyard sits in one of Canterbury’s most characterful pockets, where ancient clay limestone and gravel terraces give Pinot Noir a fine mineral thread and naturally elegant tannins. These conditions, together with crisp nights and long autumn sunshine, help the fruit develop lifted aromatics and clarity of structure without ever drifting into heaviness.

The winemaking leans toward transparency. Fruit is hand picked at perfect ripeness and fermented in small parcels using native yeasts. A thoughtful portion of whole bunches adds spice, floral lift and textural tension. Gentle extraction preserves precision in the tannins, and the wine matures in French oak, mostly seasoned, to maintain focus and savoury definition. The style is unmistakably North Canterbury: aromatic, poised, quietly complex and shaped by its limestone roots.

The bouquet carries an immediate sense of place, opening with red cherry, wild strawberry and cranberry woven through rose petals, pomegranate, orange peel and a touch of dried thyme. Underneath the fruit sits a subtle earthy nuance with hints of black tea, crushed limestone and warm autumn leaves. Given time in the glass, the wine deepens into flavours of raspberry compote, spice and a gentle smoky mineral note.

On the palate, the wine moves with grace and precision. Red berries glide across a fine tannin lattice, lifted by bright, mouthwatering acidity. Flavours of cherry, redcurrant, plum skin and subtle oak spice mingle with savoury herbal tones and a cool, mineral edge that reflects its chalk and clay soils. Everything feels harmonious and beautifully proportioned. The finish is long, fresh and quietly unfolding with lingering red fruit, florals and a dry, elegant mineral snap. This cuvée will continue to evolve over six to eight years, gaining aromatic depth and soft truffle like nuance.

It shines with duck breast, mushroom risotto, grilled salmon, pork fillet with herbs, beetroot dishes, charcuterie, soft cheeses or tomato based pastas. A gentle chill highlights its perfume and purity.