Three Southern Hemisphere Pinot Noirs


Boya Pinot Noir 2015, Leyda, Chile (£11.99 Majestic)
Why is so much Chilean Pinot Noir blighted by reduction? This seems to have reasonable if a touch jammy soft berry flavours, but that rubbery reduced character is front and centre, and is still the main event two days after opening. C-

Seresin Rachel Pinot Noir 2012, Marlborough, New Zealand (£28.00 Booths, Wholefoods, D-Vine Cellars, The Wine Society, Planet of the Grapes, Vagabond Wines, Salut Wines, Field & Fawcett)
As with the wine above, this has a touch of reduction here, but here, it dissipates with time, allowing the dense, dark, earthy berry, dark cherry and plum flavours to shine out. Indeed, it seems to get fresher and more fragrant (violets?) the longer it’s open, and the oak that on first taste is a little prominent fades into the background. It’s denser in body than Burgundy but has the same level of complexity, a lovely wine. S+

Fromm La Strada Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand (£19.99 Virgin Wines)
Despite the firm backbone, this seems to be a lighter, more delicate style than some Fromm wines in the past. However, there’s no shortage of floral aromas and red berry and cherry flavour, with spicy oak notes coming through but never dominating, and a savoury edge to the finish. Needs a couple of years to show at its best, if you can wait that long. S(-)

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