Martinborough Pinot Noir

Colour of light to mid Ruby with a tawny rim - almost transparent. Red fruited aromatics of cherry and strawberry with a little pepper and whole bunch notes. Next day a jubey note on the palate amongst the pastel red fruits. M- acid and tannins. Martinborough is great for Pinot Noir. Dry River has some famous neighbours like Ata Rangi and Escarpment.

Terrific balance. Nice structure and wanted air. Super tasty but I can’t justify the price.

Very dense crimson/Ruby in colour. A rich full bodied Pinot Noir - as I’ve written in previous Dry River PN tastings - a Shiraz drinkers Pinot. My problem with Dry River PNs has always been the density and lack of nuance even when you cellar them for a long time. I much preferred the 2013 Tolpuddle PN the previous night.

Rich crimson in colour. Muted on the nose and the palate. Very self contained and latent with that solid core promising much. Will develop into the stewed fruits/rhubarb genre I feel. Hopefully with age it will chip bits away from that core to add complexity. Very solid at the moment. 90 now - with potential for 94 points. Some critics state that Dry River’s Pinot Noir is an excellent dry red but is not varietal. I tend to fall into that camp.

A cellar release from Dry River I bought a few years ago. Mid to deep crimson with a hint of tawniness. Great intensity - ripe strawberry - liquorice notes - savoury and sweet at the same time. A strange thing to say but it doesn’t scream Pinot Noir. Grainy tannins. Similar experience as with previous Dry River Pinots to be robust, muscular and contained. Following day big and savoury - I stand by yesterday’s note. A great drink but lacks Pinosity. At least Bob Campbell MW liked it giving it 99 points.

Mid to deep Crimson in colour. Fairly contained nose - hints of raspberry, violets and a peppery note reflecting some whole bunch in the ferment. Palate is also latent showing much promise - still with raspberry notes, red fruits and plum. I have had this “latent “ experience with Dry River Pinot Noirs before which is at odds with the pros drinking Windows. This is my first of six and will have the next in 2023. Tempted to say a Shiraz drinkers Pinot but it’s better than that.

This is some #smoothcriminal type of #pinot #pinotnoir very age worthy and #cellar ageable. It is expensive but I feel it is a sure bet. #martinborough #newzealand

Dark crimson in colour. Red florals with earthy beetroot notes on a medium bodied palate with medium plus intensity. Still quite stern tannins but overall starting to break the confines of over extraction finally at 12 years of age. This is my last bottle and the best of 6 originally bought. Previous notes have said that this is a Shiraz drinkers Pinot and I still stick with that assessment. I believe Dry River are now making their Pinots less extracted and more approachable at a younger age. In summary this is excellent, it just needed time.

Delectable - this is the Craighall Vineyard Pinot Noir - not offered in your choices. This wine had a lovely vibrant colour of dark crimson. Aromas of cherry but somewhat latent and still promising much. My experience with Dry River Pinots is that they need at least 10 years and I cannot understand the Drinking Window from the winery as 2019-2022. I have made a note to drink my 2nd one in 2025. This is a big full bodied concentrated Pinot with plenty of Tannin. Only 649 bottles of the Craighall made. The next day still solid, dense and ungiving - without nuance. Needs cellaring time.

Fruit forward with a lovely balance of acidity and some structure. Unlike a Pinot. Lovely to drink.