Winery: Valli Wines
Region: Waitaki, Central Otago NZ
Variety: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2009
Your Wine Guy says:
Sourced from a vineyard about 5 minutes away from where Grant Taylor grew up, this is perhaps the most intense and powerful of the three Pinots from Valli. The nose is fragrant and shows rich cherry fruit with savoury forest floor complexity and skilful use of high quality French oak. The palate is rich and intense with dark plum, spice and a very long and velvety finish carried further by a minerally acid that will greatly aid cellaring potential - if you can give it the chance. This is my favourite of the 3 in their line-up and at a recent tasting Grant mentioned to me it is his favourite too.
Only 230 cases produced of this fantastic wine and much less than that make it to Australia so I recommend you get it while you can.
97 Points YWG Drink to 2017+
The winemaker says:
The Waitaki has the most savoury aromatics of Valli’s three Pinot Noirs. Sweet earth and white pine mushroom, with some pretty floral, dried herb notes and red berry fruit in the background. Often not picked until mid-May, in this cooler climate the grapes benefit from a very long hang time, producing wines with fine tannins, incredible length and a chef’s dream firm acid backbone.
Winery Information:
Valli is the creation of pioneering Otago winemaker; Grant Taylor, who is one of New Zealand’s most awarded Pinot Noir makers. He is dedicated to producing limited volumes of single vineyard wines from the most interesting of Otago’s sub-regions: Gibbston, Bannockburn and the Waitaki. All three Pinot's are great examples of how much difference just a few kilometres can make. Grant’s focus is on the 'Waitaki', a wine that shows the elegance Otago can produce: lovely delicate fruit with a touch of earthy mushrooms flowing in a silky mannerism.
Grant Taylor is one of New Zealand’s most awarded Pinot Noir winemakers, earning a string of Gold medal and Trophy accolades throughout his long career.
However, none surpasses Grant winning the Trophy for ‘Best Pinot Noir’ at the world’s largest wine competition the London International Wine Challenge, twice. A feat achieved by no other winemaker in the world.
As a pioneering winemaker in Otago, Grant has produced the first vintages for many of the region’s well-known labels including Bald Hills, Carrick, Felton Road, Hawkshead, Mondillo, Mount Edward, Mt Difficulty, Peregrine, Rockburn (aka Hay’s Lake), Thyme Hill and Van Asch.
Wines available from Your Wine Guy are:
Valli Old Vine Riesling
Valli Gibbston Pinot Noir
Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Valli Waitaki Pinot Noir
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