Attractive pinot noir from two Paddock’s own Earnscleugh vineyards with taut, restrained and linear red cherry, mineral and floral flavours. The wine has power but delivers it with subtlety. Terrific cellaring potential.

Moderately saturated, bright pale red. Strawberry, flint, peppery herbs and smoke on the slightly reduced nose, plus a whiff of Burgundian underbrush. Not a hugely fleshy or complex wine but penetrating, slightly peppery acidity frames and intensifies the flavors of strawberry, flint and saline minerality. Nicely savory on the lingering finish, with a repeating peppery edge.

Moderately saturated palish red. Wild, full-blown aromas of strawberry, raspberry, mocha, underbrush and caramel oak, plus hints of pepper and flint. Sweet, concentrated and deep, with soil-driven red fruit flavors complicated by saline and spicy nuances. This elegant, floral pinot finishes spicy and long, with a solid spine of ripe tannins contributing grip.

The 2009 Pinot Noir presents a medium ruby-purple and intense black cherry, game, smoked meat, loam and black truffle notes. Crisp in the mouth with a medium level of finely grained tannins, this medium bodied Pinot has good concentration and a long savory finish. Approachable now, it should cellar to 2015.Since their debut in 1999, Hollywood A-lister and oenophile Sam Neill and winemaker Matt Dicey have fashioned a very natural, almost leafy style of Pinot Noir from their Gibbston and Alexandra Valley vineyards. The wines come across as far less ostentatious than their Central Otago peers and they tend to drink perfectly at 2-4 years of age.No known USA importer.