Highlights: Black Estate Netherwood Pinot Noir 2014 Waipara Valley, New Zealand

This is a deeply impressive New Zealand Pinot Noir, from Black Estate. Winemaking is pretty natural here, and the house style is meticulous farming, early picking and a respectful elevage. The wines tend to be understated and this Pinot, at age six, is all ethereal and delicious.

Black Estate Netherwood Pinot Noir 2014 Waipara Valley, New Zealand
12% alcohol. This is from the Netherwood vineyard, planted in 1986, with its mudstone and sandstone soils. It’s 4500 vines per hectare and 4.5 hectares, which is neatly symmetrical, and this wine was wild yeast ferment with 80% whole cluster. At age 6 it’s quite beautiful. Fresh, light, but with nice presence on the palate, showing some hints of undergrowth and vivid red cherry and raspberry fruit. There’s a lovely acid line and plenty of red fruit, herb and spice complexity. Juicy, but not just a glugger, with finesse, elegance and a sense of purpose. Haunting, beguiling and so pretty in its lightness. 95/100 (£29.95 Roving Sommelier which is great value when you consider that the current release, 2017, is £57 retail!)