Having tasted the 2005 Rippon Pinot in Queenstown earlier this year and thought it to be the highlight of the grand tasting session it was a disappointment to discover that stocks had just run out in Australia. As a customer kindly pointed out, if you miss that bus there will be another one along shortly.

Back in January (when previously tasted) it was easy to see where the 2006 Rippon Pinot might be headed but the bouquet was yet to evolve. The palate showed a great line of very pure fruit which looked good for the future.

And so has faith been rewarded. Tasted on Tuesday Sept 16, 2008, the 2006 Rippon Pinot Noir showed its undeniable class. The beautiful perfume shows clove spice, pretty fruit and rather comforting raspberry and pastry notes. The wine has a lovely weight and volume with a nice touch of charry oak over the sweet fruit. The texture is most appealing.

There’s lots to look forward to in the future so pop a couple away for 5-10 years.

2006 Rippon Pinot Noir now SOLD OUT, we are awaiting (the very limited) stock of vintage 2007.

The answer was both obvious and unexpected – “The 2001 Paringa Estate Pinot.” There was no hesitation on my part and this was a visit that had included Champagne of a stellar year, aged Chablis of great provenance and Trophy winning pinots from New Zealand and Tasmania.

Served blind, as it was, I was convinced that this was a wine from Central Otago with a couple of years under its belt – 2005 was the guess such was its fruit purity, fine perfume and sweet, silky palate. The Paringa word had been on my lips early though as I recalled the clarity and finesse of the 2006 Estate Pinot tasted earlier that day at cellar door. But I couldn’t imagine an Aussie pinot looking so glamorous after 7 years in bottle. Prejudices have now been cast aside.

It should have been no surprise, Paringa Estate Pinot shows up vintage after vintage at the top of wine lovers’ and critics’ lists of favourite pinots. The track record is there, buy this wine with total confidence and make sure you have some to pull out in seven years’ time.

2006 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir $59

This gem of a wine is the top-selling pinot noir at Pinot Shop by a very wide margin. It deserves to be because quite frankly it is a rippingly good pinot at a sensational price. The balance between plummy and fleshy fruit (with hints of coffee) and the slightly savoury notes on the palate is perfect in every sense. Terrific as it is now, cellaring for 2 – 3 years more will repay with extra smoothness.

It keeps popping up in blind tastings and it looks sensational every time.
2005 Bream Creek Reserve Pinot Noir $39

Craggy Range’s 2006 Calvert Pinot from Bannockburn pressed the button this week

Divine wine, that’s for sure. The aroma is mouth-watering and gives a precise account of what’s to come. It’s jubey and smooth but with texture and weight, all that Central lovers desire. Other more delicate types will find the intense plums, blackcurrant jelly notes and touch of mocha on the finish a touch overwhelming.

A thrill now but keep some for successive drinking 2 to 7 years hence.

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2006 Craggy Range Calvert Vineyard Pinot Noir $66