2011 Cashburn, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, New Zealand.
The Cashburn label brings famous Sonoma Coast winemaker of Littorai, Ted Lemon, Megadeath and New Zealand’s Burgundy like region of Central Otago together, and this has produced a fabulous and racy Pinot Noir! What were you expecting, Hobbits, Wizards and Trolls? Lemon’s gifted touch and fine terroir influences make for a stylish and unique expression and one worth searching out no question, this is serious Pinot Noir made by a guy that knows something about the varietal from his long and storied career. The 2011 Cashburn Central Otago flows with decedent red fruits, spice and heightened intensity and is driven by vibrant acidity and lovely earthy notes that fold nicely into this medium bodied Pinot from Kiwi-land. The nose has an interesting array of sparks to your senses with dried flowers, flinty mineral spice, wild game and mushroom along with kirsch notes leading to a lively and firm palate of red currants, damson plum, mountain berry and a succulent core of morello cherry fruit along with truffle, bacon fat and guava. This briar and bramble laced Pinot Noir expands on the palate and the tannins melt into a silky rich wine that certainly with gain with another few years in bottle, though I like that is is not too polished yet and has many intriguing angles to explore now and changes all the time in the glass, this is sexy and exotic Pinot Noir, drink from 2014 to 2019.
($42 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive