568373 Wed Oct 29 18:44:07 -0700 2008 20 34 Wine 0 4137631 I'm a pinot fan but haven't tried many from New Zealand. Any recommendations out there? I don't recall seeing any recent threads on this. Thanks Wed Oct 29 18:44:07 -0700 2008 229082 The Chowfather 1 4137752 In alphabetical order . . . Amisfield (Central Otago), Ata Rangi (Martinborough), Felton Road* (Central Otago), Isabel Estate* (Marlborough), Lawson's Dry Hills* (Marlborough), Martinborough Vineyard (Martinborough), Mount Difficulty* (Central Otago), Palliser Estate (Martinborough),Villa Maria [RESERVE bottling] (Marlborough), Waipara Springs Winery (Waipara) are ALL recommended. My favorites are marked with an asterisk. Wed Oct 29 19:59:02 -0700 2008 4137631 28122 zin1953 2 4137916 I second the Felton Road recommendation. I also find the PNs from C. Otago to be more distinctive than the ones from Marlborough. Wed Oct 29 22:54:13 -0700 2008 4137752 97069 mengathon 3 4138284 Nice list, Jason! I would add Staete Landt PN to that list. I tried the 2004 at a NZ tasting 2 years ago, and it was the crowd's (and my) favourite wine of the night. Around $40 in CAN, probably $30-35 in the US. Thu Oct 30 07:23:33 -0700 2008 4137916 99971 anewton 2 4138353 Awesome- thank you. Will look for these at my local place. I recently purchased a 2004 Finca Sandoval based on your recommendation. I haven't tried it yet but looking forward to it. Thu Oct 30 07:51:07 -0700 2008 4137752 229082 The Chowfather 3 4138881 Chowfather, curious what your local place is, as I am always looking for somewhere new to try for wine. Only asking because i see your posts in the Florida boards. Thu Oct 30 11:38:01 -0700 2008 4138353 124704 Icantread 4 4139677 I like Hollywood Vine on Harrison St. in downtown Hollywood. Thu Oct 30 18:11:15 -0700 2008 4138881 229082 The Chowfather 5 4146244 thank you! Mon Nov 03 09:32:42 -0800 2008 4139677 124704 Icantread 6 4146691 fyi- I didn't get the Finca Sandoval there though Mon Nov 03 12:04:08 -0800 2008 4146244 229082 The Chowfather 1 4138577 The last NZ pinot I liked was from Marlborough; it's called Huia. Thu Oct 30 09:26:22 -0700 2008 4137631 74451 vinosnob 2 4139765 Huia can be very good, but I prefer Claire & Mike's whites and sparklers. Thu Oct 30 19:10:26 -0700 2008 4138577 28122 zin1953 1 4139222 I haven't had very many New Zealand Pinots either. Would you say these are more like California Pinots, more like burgundies, or totally their own thing? What are some typical descriptors for NZ Pinot? Thu Oct 30 14:13:41 -0700 2008 4137631 16011 oolah 2 4139797 Danger! Danger! Warning, Will Robinson! BROAD GENERALIZATION AHEAD . . . . I have always viewed the spectrum as: CALIFORNIA............................................................................................................FRANCE Australia in California on steroids, but this applies more to Cabernet and Shiraz. New Zealand is New World, but think more cool climate (Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Anderson Valley), with some Burgundian accents. Thu Oct 30 19:26:07 -0700 2008 4139222 28122 zin1953 3 4141041 I haven't had tons of New Zealand Pinot, but I find it most similar to Oregon. I find the fruit flavors and weight to be pretty equivalent. I tend to get more earth and mushrooms from New Zealand, and a touch more spice and kola nut flavors from Oregon. I know that's a huge generalization, but on average that's what I've found. Fri Oct 31 11:23:28 -0700 2008 4139797 86802 vanillagorilla 4 4141138 Generalizations is really all we have, and I don't disagree with you. I thought first of the cooler parts of Sonoma (and the Santa Cruz Mountains, which I failed to mention) simply because I *drink* more Pinots from there than I do from Oregon, but I can see the connection! Fri Oct 31 11:57:19 -0700 2008 4141041 28122 zin1953 5 4141663 Thank you! I have had Pinots I've liked from Oregon and RRV, so it sounds like New Zealand is worth investigating. I'll venture into that section of the wine store next time I visit. Fri Oct 31 15:45:59 -0700 2008 4141138 16011 oolah 5 4142138 I also agree that Oregon is the closest we have to NZ. :-) Fri Oct 31 23:14:10 -0700 2008 4141138 50041 whiner 1 4141865 New Zealand Pinot is like New Zealand pinot - best to think of it like they do in New Zealand. A wine from New Zealand. Go exploring - you will more often than not enjoy what you like. If you go thru the wines listed on this post you will be delighted. I am very biased and would suggest names lilke Bannock Brae Barrel Select from Central Otago or Domaine Georges Michel from the Golden Mile in Marlborough or maybe Torlesse Wines from Waipara and Canterbury. Or maybe even a Sparkling wine like No 8 Cuvee from No 1 Family Estate in Marlborough - a bit of Pinot Noir and Chardonnnay. Exploring New Zealand wines has never better - wherever you are in the world. Fri Oct 31 18:06:34 -0700 2008 4137631 211720 ronmcfarland 2 4141944 As someone who used to import wines from New Zealand into America, let me say that Ron is absolutely right: New Zealand wines are most like . . . . New Zealand wines! I've long taught my students that France makes the absolute best French wines in the world! that California makes the very best California wines in the world! and nowhere are German wines made as great as they are in Germany! The facts are that the differences that exist between a ___________ (insert wine type here) produced in one place (say, France) and the same type of wine made in another place (say, California) far outweigh any similarities. That said, while acknowledging that nothing made anywhere on the planet is *exactly* like a wine from New Zealand, Ron, the closest analogies I can come up with were used above. So while you are quite right to point out their unique qualities, someone who has never tasted one can benefit from some sort of reference point, no matter how many warnings nor how strong those warning may be . . . . Fri Oct 31 18:57:11 -0700 2008 4141865 28122 zin1953 1 4142140 Felton Road, particularly the Block 5. Keep your eyes open for Hawkshead. They will find a distributer and rock in the U.S. I had their (first?) vintage at Pinot Days in SF. Probably the best wine there. Fri Oct 31 23:15:23 -0700 2008 4137631 50041 whiner 1 4142357 One that I've enjoyed that I've not seen mentioned is Ra Nui (Malborough, Wairau Valley), here's my notes on the '05 (which I bought for around $17) -> Medium-light garnet color which goes transparent at the edges. Really bright nose of almost candied raspberry, with flowery notes. Nice silky mouthfeel with soft, sweet berry flavors, delicate tannins and a surprisingly long finish. Sat Nov 01 06:49:49 -0700 2008 4137631 35525 Frodnesor