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 Pencarrow from Martinborough, New Zealand. The 2005 season in Martinborough delivered a light crop with intense color and ripe flavors and tannins. This Martinborough Pinot Noir was made with traditional Burgundian techniques including a prefermentation maceration, which allows wild yeast to initiate the fermentation and a post-fermentation maceration to ensure the complex tannin structure. After pressing it was matured in French oak casks for 12 months. Deep red color. Intense ripe fruit flavors of ripe plum and red and black berry fruits backed by nice oak characters. The palate is full of ripe flavors and tannins and is round and lingering.

Red Wine by Te Kairanga from Martinborough, New Zealand. Aromas of plums and mocha and lovely floral notes dominate the nose. There is an underlying spicy/cinnamon complexity already evident at this early stage and it will develop savory, gamey characters with bottle age. Some silky tannins accentuate the fruit, giving a beautifully integrated wine. Decant this young wine six hours ahead of serving and enjoy it as it unfolds. Try it with lamb, quail, pheasant, or duck. Sensational with mature cheeses. Great to enjoy now or cellar until 2009.