Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
A unique, “matt” garnet hue with aromas of wild strawberry, cassis, and mulberry laced with maple, cedar and wild thyme. The intriguing bouquet is followed on the palate with garrigue spice, cardamom, strawberry, tart cherry, and mushroom. The wine is concentrated yet bright with fine tannins and incredible persistence, finishing with distinctive salinity. Intense fragrance, unique savoury undertones, and electric energy = classic Waitaki Pinot Noir and 2021 has it in spades. Captivating at release, this wine will continue to develop for at least a decade.” Jen Parr - October 2022
Awards and Reviews
- 100/100 Points – Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
- 4.5 Stars – Michael Cooper
- 96/100 Points – Cameron Douglas MS
- 96/100 Points – 5 Stars – Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- 95/100 Points – Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review
- 91/100 Points – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous.com
- Gold Medal, Dish Magazine Pinot Noir Tasting
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020
"A light garnet hue with wild strawberry and plum married with black olive, maple, sage, and oyster shell. The intriguing bouquet follows on the palate with garrigue spice, cardamom, damson plum, tart cherry, and mushroom. The palate has deceptive intensity with fine tannins and incredible persistence, finishing with distinctive salinity. Intense fragrance, unique savoury undertones, and electric energy = classic Waitaki Pinot Noir and this vintage is no exception. Captivating at release, this wine will continue to develop for a decade” Jen Parr
Awards and Reviews
- 96/100 Bob Campbell MW
- 96/100 Points – Cameron Douglas MS
- 93/100 Points – Decanter World Wine Awards
- 4.5 Stars – Michael Cooper
- 91/100 Points – Rebecca Gibb MW, Vinous.com
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
“A garnet hue with wild berry and plum aromas married with sage, black olive, maple, and oyster shell. The intriguing bouquet follows on the palate with garrigue spice, morello cherry, strawberry, and subtle earthiness and salinity. The palate is creamy yet focused with fine tannins and a deliciously tart finish. Waitaki Pinot Noir often walks on the wild side with intense fragrance, unique savory undertones, and electric energy - this vintage is no exception! Due to the exceptionally small yield, this wine was made in small quantities, making it an extra special treasure for the cellar” Jen Parr
Awards and Reviews
- 4.5 Stars – Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine.
- 98/100 – Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
- 96/100 Points – Cameron Douglas, MS
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
"Bright garnet hue with vivid fruit aromas of wild strawberry, morello cherry, and plum married with sage, wild thyme, rose petal and a hint of cedar. The vibrant fruit, floral notes and savoury spice layer wonderfully with silky tannins and creamy texture highlighted by a fresh acidity that gives the wine tremendous energy. The warmer growing season resulted in a solid fruit set and an early start to harvest with all clones delivering brilliant, healthy clusters. Wild red fruit, intense fragrance and electric energy are the hallmarks of Waitaki Pinot Noir and this vintage is no exception, delivering a notably concentrated wine with plenty of cellaring potential." Jen Parr
Awards and Reviews
- Judges Selection Award for Best Pinot Noir - TEXSOM International Wine Awards 2020
- Gold Medal - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2020
- Top 100 Wines Of New Zealand - JamesSuckling.com
Named in the "Fine Wines of New Zealand List 2020”
- 94/100 Points - Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
- 96/100 Points - 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- 96/100 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
- 96/100 Points - Cameron Douglas MS
- 94/100 Points - Bob Campbell MW
- 93/100 Points - John Szabo MW
- 93/100 Points - Wine Specatator
- 18.5/20 Points - Joelle Thomson
- 4.5 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
- "Light garnet hue with fruit aromas o f wild strawberry, sweet cherry, and plum married with sage, wild thyme and a touch o f cedar. The vibrant fruit, savoury notes and intriguing spice, layer wonder fully with the silky fine tannins and creamy texture highlighted by a fresh acidity that gives the wine tremendous energy. The cooler growing season saw a late April /early May harvest resulting in a beautifully fragrant wine with delicate fine tannins and exciting aromatics that are a true re flection o f the Waitaki. A wine that is a touch exotic, lithe and exceptionally enjoyable upon release and will bene fit from up to 8 years in the cellar. A real gem for those who love Waitaki Pinots !"
Awards and Reviews:
- Top Wines of 2019 – Peter Dean, The-Buyer.net
- 95/100 Points – 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
- 92/100 Points - Bob Campbell MW
- 93/100 Points - Nick Stock, JamesSuckling.com
- 5 Stars – 18.5-/20 – Raymond Chan
- 4 Stars - Michael Cooper, Winestate Magazine
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
"Bright garnet hue with fresh red fruit aromas of wild strawberry, sweet cherry, and raspberry with fragrant potpourri and a touch of cedar. The vibrant fruit and intriguing spice layer wonderfully with the silky fine tannins and creamy texture highlighted by an electric acidity that gives the wine tremendous energy. The warmer growing season resulted in an early harvest for the Waitaki, creating a beautifully concentrated wine with a touch more tannin than in cooler years, yet still showcasing all the classic Waitaki features. A wine that is engaging lithe, and fragrant in its youth and will definitely reward cellaring."
Awards and Reviews
- 93/100 Points - Bob Campbell MW
- 92/100 Points - Nick Stock - JamesSuckling.com
- 94/100 Points - 5 Stars - Sam Kim - Wine Orbit
- 92/100 Points - Wine Advocate
- 19.5/20 Points - 5 Stars - Raymond Chan
- 5 Stars - Michael Cooper
- 17/20 Points - JancisRobinson.com
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015
"Light garnet hue with sweet and savoury aromas of fresh lilac, dried plum, wild strawberry, cumin and manuka-smoked bacon. The charming florals, intriguing spice and red/dried fruit flavours layer wonderfully with the limey acidity that drives the wine and the silky fine tannins that create a beautiful round and mouth-filling texture. Forever ethereal, Waitaki Pinot is unique: bridging the energy of new world pinot noir with the form and shape of classic old world pinot noir. An intriguing wine that is lithe and fragrant in its youth with savoury notes that will continue to unfold with age."
Awards and Reviews
Supple and bright with some juicy fruit, nice sweet herby notes and a bit of greenness. Silky and drinkable with real finesse and purity - 94/100 Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014
"An intriguing fragrance of lilac, rose, strawberries, cassis, and Oolong tea with a hint of smoked bacon. The powerful acid core drives the wine and gives energy to the flavours of red fruit, mulberry, and white pepper. The tannins are intricately fine and give great length to the flavours. This is an ethereal wine that will live long in the moment and also endure the test of time."
Awards and Reviews
- 93 Points - Cameron Douglas MS
- 93 Points - Bob Campbell MW
- 91+ Points - Stephen Tanzer
- 90 Points - Wine Spectator
- 5 Stars - Raymond Chan
- 5 Stars - Sam Kim
- 4 1/2 Stars - Michael Cooper
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2013
“Violet, exotic spices, pretty floral and herbal notes, white pepper with a hint of smokey bacon barrell-derived complexity. Very silky, sinewy mouthfeel, with an acid core that gives the wine energy and drives flavour. This is a classic Waitaki Pinot: bright, alive, with very fine tannins and incredible length of flavour.” – Grant Taylor
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012
Very dark violet: this is quite dense colour for a Waitaki Pinot Noir. Open, fragrant, pretty aromatics: roses, spices, coffee, toast and dusty oak. Silky texture with fine tannins, acid and fruit woven into one very long sinewy mouth feel. This is a classic Waitaki Pinot with each part vying for dominance. It is pure harmony with tension.” – Grant Taylor
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2011
"Dark, deep ruby-red with some purple hues, lighter on rim. The nose is very fragrant and lifted with violet and dark red florals, notes of raspberry jam and liqueur, liquorice and pepper, underlined by fresh dark herbs that build in depth and intensity. Medium-full bodied, elegant, compactly bound flavours of bright, soft red berry fruits are lifted by red floral elements. Fragrant, cooler spectrum herb and dried stalk whole bunch flavours are integral with the fruit. The mouthfeel is finely textured with refined tannin extraction, and alcohol and acidity provide cut and linearity. The structure becomes more prevalent on mid-palate and leads to a soft, dry and lightly nuanced finish. Possessing a complex bouquet this is a fine-grained, linear Pinot Noir with fragrant red fruits and herbal flavour underlay." - Raymond Chan, March 2013
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010
The most savoury aromatics of Valli’s four Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs. Dark berry fruit, exotic spice and dried herb notes with complexity from toasted barrels as well as the region’s earthy mineral notes. Dense, silky textured and with concentration not previously seen in the Waitaki. This vintage shows darker, more brooding berry fruits, yet still retains savoury mineral notes, flavour-carrying acidity and lovely gentle tannins. Often not picked until mid-May in this cooler climate, it is easy to see the benefit of a very long hang time.
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009
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 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.
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
“Amazingly perfumed aromatics; talc, crushed limestone, dried herb, spice and red berry fruit. Often not picked till mid May the grapes bene t from a long “hang time” before harvest producing wines with very fi ne, ripe integrated tannins and incredible length of flavour.”
Valli Waitaki Vineyard Pinot Noir 2006
"Nose: Very open and perfumed aromatics, raspberry fruit with dusty/earthy herb notes in the background.
Palate: Waitaki Pinot Noirs are not about impact or density, they are “lightness of being.” This wine has clear acidity which keeps the wine light on the palate but delivers great length, carrying raspberry fruit flavours and minerality on for what seems like forever."
Awards and Reviews
- 91 Points - Stephen Tanzer