The Star: August 13, 2020

The Star Thursday August 13 2020
32
WINE
EXPECTATIONS are a funny
thing.
Naturally, I try to avoid them
when I’m tasting, as they could
cloud one’s judgement and
impartiality.
I know the identity of the wines
in a tasting, but they are always
masked and in random order: this
is dubbed “single blind tasting”.
My regular tasting duo
of Collins and McLaren are
informed of the wine style and
vintage spread, but know neither
the identities nor order in which
they are served: this is “double
blind tasting”.
The average price of today’s
wines created an expectation of
class, which was borne out in the
glass.
2018 Chard Farm The Tiger
Central Otago Pinot Noir
Price: $81
Rating: Excellent/outstanding
Beguiling nose showing
subtlety and elegance, mixing
strawberry, raspberry, perfume,
savoury nuances and wild herb/
lavender notes.
Juicy, sappy, power without
weight, sweet fruit courses
through this aligned with herbal
notes and savoury qualities.
Builds in texture and richness.
Lovely integration and balance, a
real charmer.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
2018 Chard Farm Mason
Vineyard Central Otago
Pinot Noir
Price: $81
Rating: Very good to excellent
Subtle nose with sweet berry
compote, wood smoke, perfume
and schisty notes. Darker fruits,
a hint of cough lolly, perhaps
whole bunch ferment stalk
notes and chewy tannins.
Flavoursome, developing a
bittersweet element and sweet ‘n’
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Class borne out in a long-stemmed glass
• By Mark Henderson
sour interplay on the long finish.
This is showing its youthfully
brash side for now.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
2016 Pegasus Bay Prima
Donna Pinot Noir
Price: $100
Rating: Excellent to
outstanding
Appealing nose, darker
register to the fruit, plum,
tamarillo, bonfire embers,
building in fragrance. Richly
fruited, mouth- filling, this is
clearly a ripe and powerful wine,
yet it doesn’t stray into excess.
Some chalky/ fruit pith and
zesty acid interplay brings lovely
liveliness to the texture. A fresh,
tangy note hangs on the long
finish. Delightful.
www.pegasusbay.com
2018 Quartz Reef Bendigo
Single Ferment Pinot Noir
Price: $85
Rating: Excellent
A nose of intrigue, balsamic/
umami influences shift to
perfume and dusty stones,
raspberry with time.
Richly fruited entry,
loganberry, mixed berries,
cinnamon and spices lead,
evolving to savoury notes
and fresh, sour cherry on the
long close. Weight but no
excess, growing in richness
and integration, adding earthy
touches. Lots of interest.
www.quartzreef.co.nz
2018 Chard Farm Viper
Vineyard Central Otago
Pinot Noir
Price: $81
Rating: Excellent
Subtle yet attractively
expressed nose of berryfruit,
rhubarb, perfume and savoury
notes, kid leather perhaps.
Somewhat enigmatic, starting
subtly, spices and wisps of
balsamic giving way to sweet
fruit as this blossoms in the glass,
showing deceptive power and
structure. Crisp acidity keeps
this lively with a lifted, tart note
on the long finish.
www.chardfarm.co.nz
2014 Misha’s Vineyard
Verismo Central Otago
Pinot Noir
Price: $75
Rating: Very good to excellent
Notably fragrant nose with
additions of stewed fruits,
balsamic notes, anise and dusty
stones.
A boldness to the palate,
leading with spice and savoury
notes, a little tilled earth,
mushroom and forest floor/
funkiness building with aeration.
Already round and supple,
this bottle-aged release can be
enjoyed now.
www.mishasvineyard.com
style
noun
elegance and sophistication.
synonyms: flair, grace, poise,
polish, suaveness, urbanity, chic,
finesse, taste, class, comfort,
luxury, affluence, wealth,
opulence, lavishness.
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