Wine By Nine

Red Wine by Craggy Range Winery from Martinborough, New Zealand. Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir is highly colored with bright ruby red in colour. Savoury spice notes are accented by perfumed aromas of violets, red cherry, blackberry and ruby grapefruit on the nose. Complex flavours of cherry, root spice, smoke and florals predominate the textural and creamy palate. The finish is long with redfruit and spice drawn out by the fine, silky tannin structure. Delicious with poultry, game and lamb dishes. Drink now through 2011.

Red Wine by Ata Rangi from Martinborough, New Zealand. The dream vintage of 2006 has produced a lively, fruit-expressive Pinot that reflects the strong Ata Rangi heritage. Selected barrel components kept separate during fermentation and maturation integrated unusually effortlessly on blending, immediately revealing a wine of deceptive power and grace - the ultimate reward for a winemaker, and the result of an exceptionally favorable season. Sleek, ultra-supple tannins support the vivid red fruits, fresh plum-stone and ripe black cherry notes. Dark chocolate and rose scents add intrigue and promise, as do the fine savory threads which run through the palate. Taut and restrained when young, this vibrant Pinot will in time reveal its wilder, earthier side, along with voluptuous fruit spun in a shawl of silky tannins. Consider decanting this wine when the wine is very young, for perhaps one hour before serving.

Red Wine by Neudorf from New Zealand. Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir has cult status in NZ. It has depth, complexity and silkiness that makes you think of a top flight Volnay. -Wall Street Journal Youthful, purple hue in the glass with a complex nose of cracked pepper, dark summer berries, black cherry and chocolate, combined with visceral, earthy characters, dried wild herbs and excellent but unobtrusive supporting oak. Palate: Initial savoury / black fruit entry carries through a mouth filling, richly structured palate, the texture of soft leather. An underlying mineral acidity supports this richness, adding a certain juiciness and considerable length. Overall a wine of complexity and finesse. The delicious flavor of fresh-crushed raspberries form the center of this wine, intensified and focused by the structure. It's built on smoky tannins and peppery alcohol, neither element obtrusive. Delicate scents of roses and kelp add complexity to the substantial fruit. The wine feels complete and youthful, suited to several years of age, rich enough for roast sweetbreads. -Wines & Spirits

Red Wine by Cloudy Bay from Marlborough, New Zealand. An enticing fragrance of dusky dark fruits - black cherries, plums and berries intermingles with rich earthy aromas, mocha and exotic spices. The intensely varietal palate of ripe red and black fruit has chary oak flavors and plush velvety tannins that clothe a tautly structured frame. The 2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir reflects the benefits of a naturally low-cropping season and finishes with great length and depth of flavor.

Red Wine by Villa Maria from New Zealand. The 2005 Reserve is a blend of the most outstanding Pinot Noir clones selected from vineyards in the Awatere and Wairau Valleys of Marlborough. A deep perfumed bouquet of red and dark cherries, plums and complex clove notes dominate the nose. The wine displays a fruit driven, concentrated yet refined palate, possessing richness and generosity. This wine has excellent balance and length which, complemented by structured and fine tannins, will entice and intrigue for several years to come.

Red Wine by Peregrine from New Zealand. The fruit for this wine came from the Cromwell basin (80%) and the Gibbston Valley (20%) The 2006 growing season provided the perfect growing conditions for premium Pinot Noir resulting in Peregrine's earliest harvest to date. The wine was pressed to French oak barrels (35% new) where it spent 10 months. The wine was racked from barrel and lightly filtered before being bottled. The 2006 Peregrine Pinot Noir has great depth of color. The nose has mocha, fresh fruit and spice while the palate overflows with dark fruits such as plums and cherries, spice and ample tannin to match the fruit and insure the wine will last for years to come.

Red Wine by Amisfield from Central Otago, New Zealand. The wine is a deep ruby/magenta with a deep concentrated ripe Pinot nose of dark cherries, violets, mocha and spice. The palate is very powerful with lush ripe dark fruits overlaying a seamless powdery tannin profile suggesting hints of cocoa, cedar and minerals. The finish is long and complex with the French oak integrating into the wine perfectly. Definitely a keeper from a stunning vintage. Cellar for at least 10 years.

Red Wine by Brancott from Marlborough, New Zealand. Color: Deep garnet red. Aromas: Lifted dark berry fruits, black cherry with hints of savory spice and chocolate. Palate: The palate shows wonderful density with warm, dark plum and berry fruit. There is a perceived sweetness from the ripe fruit, while the tannins are fine and seamless. Serving suggestions: The wine's concentration and underlying elegance makes it an ideal match to a wide range of foods. It is perfectly matched to porcini or field mushroom risotto or pasta. The savory richness also lends itself to rare venison, grilled ostrich, slow-cooked rabbit, hare or wild fowl stews with winter vegetables. Cellaring: A complex, finely structured wine which will age gracefully for at least six years.

Red Wine by Allan Scott from Marlborough, New Zealand. Aromas of cherries, raspberries and violets which marry well with the new French oak and a creamy malolactic subtleness. The smoky oak is prevalent but does not dominate allowing the fruit to express itself. Elegant raspberry and cherry flavors on the palate with a nice structural balance of acids, tannins and oak combined with malolactic richness. Particularly well matched with lamb and game meats. Enjoy with savory dishes or on its own. Best served at room temperature and given a little time to breathe. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years.

Red Wine by Stoneleigh from Marlborough, New Zealand. True to Stoneleigh style, this soft, supple Pinot Noir captures the essence of Marlborough, New Zealand's most acclaimed winemaking region. This fragrant, well-integrated Pinot Noir has been crafted from small, concentrated grapes with classic Marlborough Pinot Noir flavors. Color: Deep ruby red Aromas: Fragrant bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, red plums overlaid with savory toasty spice. Palate: Ripe dark red berry fruit flavors dominate the palate. This wine is soft and supple with lingering fruit sweetness balanced by fine integrated tannins. Best enjoyed with succulent red meat dishes such as spring lamb, duck, game or veal. Dishes featuring mushrooms and red berry fruit will also complement this Pinot Noir beautifully. This wine may be enjoyed now but will continue to develop with careful cellaring for up to five years.

Red Wine by Kumeu River from New Zealand. As with the Kumeu Pinot Noir, the Village Pinot Noir is produced from grapes grown in Kumeu River's estate vineyards in the Auckland region of New Zealand. The Village Pinot Noir is also 100% handharvested, de-stemmed and then crushed. The Kumeu River 2004 Village Pinot Noir features a silky texture with beautiful acid balance and length of flavor. The nose exhibits ripe berry aromas. The finish is elegantly crisp and firm.

Red Wine by Vavasour from Marlborough, New Zealand. The 2006 Vavasour Pinot Noir is a deep garnet color and shows aromatic cherry and spice on the nose. The concentrated palate exhibits rich dark cherry flavors with a long, soft tannin finish.