Jan de Weerd

9.3

Bursting of flavor. Dark, dried cherry and fig drenched in earthy tannins with soothing minerally finish. — 6 years ago

with RoAnne, Sander and 2 others

Matt Nason

9.1

White peaches, slightly waxy, hint of herbaceous quality but overall a cool NZ Pinot Gris. — 7 years ago

Heidi Ingelfinger

9.5

What a beauty! Not a shrinking violet. Starts with subtle flavors of cherry, spice, and a touch of funk , but as it opens up., Cola, sarsaprallia, dr. Pepper, smores and comes with a nice balance in acid. Fruit driven initially with texture elevating as it opens. Well done! — 8 years ago

with JP

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

No petrol on the nose. White & yellow florals, soft, subtle, fresh, citrus of; lemon, lime, grapefruit, pineapple, light stone fruits and light, soft minerality. On the palate, such freshness of fruit; pineapple, lemon, lime, grapefruit, stone fruits, melons, gentle and soft minerality. The medium body & finish is pure, elegant, round, lush, exotic & sexy. Not to mention perfect acidity. Photos of another perspective of the properties sensational vistas, Sofia walking the grounds and the Cellar Door. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

On the nose, green apple, lemon, lime, green melon, light butter, wood shavings, buttered popcorn, yellow & white florals. On the palate, green apple, lemon, lime, grapefruit, citrus blossoms, gentle, soft minerals with brilliant acidity. Photos of the amazing view from the Carrick terrace and grapes just delivered and waiting to be destined and pressed. We've been fortunate to many of the worlds wine regions and Central Otago is certainly one of the most majestic and beautifully scenic regions we've visited. — 9 years ago

Brittany May

9.5

Orange blossom, mandarin, and lime with hint of apricot and melon. Citrus flavors, pineapple and honey on the palate. Balanced acidity, lovely purity of fruit and long mineral finish. Really great Riesling!!
— 9 years ago

Calvin Bocanegra

9.5

Solid Central Otago Pinot. Perfect balance of tannins, fruits, and oak flavour. A surprising delight. — 9 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

The second bottle from NZ trip. Singing. Big nose. Sandalwood with spice and dark fruit on the nose. Sweet, fruit forward, and very typical Gibbston flavour profile. Still lots of fine tannin left but fruit has fully evolved. Hot vintage? . Excellent. , — 7 years ago

with Rocket

madame_toastte

8.9

Spicy dark cherry, plum fruit with notes of wet leaves, tobacco, earthiness, vanilla hint and long finish. A lot going on but a pleasure and party in the mouth. — 8 years ago

Martin Mills

9.2

It's fair to say I underestimated this wine, despite the relatively steep price tag, opening it on a nondescript Wednesday evening. Darker in colour than the typical Otago, on the nose it gives up ripe red and black fruit, lots of sweetness and a lovely subtle hint of oak and some salinity/minerality in keeping with the region - one of those wines you could sniff away at all night. The palate is poised and mid weight with silky tannins and lashings of complex fruit flavours - rhubarb, black cherry, moving into more earthy and mushroomy notes. Long finish that is both intense and fresh at the same time. Very impressed with the integrated and harmonious character of this wine — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Nose of; candied red & dark fruits, strong red fresh florals, black raspberries, blackberries, dark cherries, raspberries, soft pice & minerals. On the palate, more extraction & oak use than their Bannockburn Pinot. M-M+ tannins, blackberries, black cherries, black raspberries, black plum, plum, cinnamon, nutmeg, strong red fresh florals, loamy soils, sticky chalkiness & grainy volcanic minerals. The finish is; round, rich, elegant & beautiful. Photos of various views from their Cellar Door. I'd like to thank Francis Hutt their Winemaker for all his time, knowledge, amazing hospitality and a wonderful walk through the vineyards and tasting. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is the Bannockburn Target Riesling not just Bannockburn. Nose of white flowers citrus, tropicals, touch of banana peel, green melon and white peach. Wine is medium sweet. Bright, fresh, citrus, lemon, lime, grapefruit, lean melon, white peach, chalky minerals, soft fragrant white florals and citrus blossoms. Great finisher. — 9 years ago

Narelle Burke

9.1

A nice Otago Pinot Noir for the NZ leg of our trip! — 9 years ago

Champa Gujjanudu

9.2

After searching long and hard found one of my fav pinots from Otago NZ. Wish I had bought a case. Smooth, dark berries and perfect Bay Area summer drinking. I like this slightly more chilled than other Pinots. — 9 years ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Cruising Central Otago in search of the perfect Pinot. Learning a lot. Today we were in the Bannockburn region. Forward vibrant red fruit. The standard Pinots estate blends we found somewhat single note with a fairly strong green edge for most wineries. Had to get to the slightly more aged, single blocks to pick up better balance and complexity. This one was like that. We met with Sara, the proprietor. Couldn’t find a better host. What a fun person, very passionate about what she is doing. A warm person in a cold climate 😊. — 7 years ago

with Tammy

Aaron Tan

9.2

2015 Irrewarra Pinot Noir by Farr. Excellent depth and length, as expected from the Farrs. Juicy sweet red fruits, oak spices, earth, all underlined by a distinct mineral finish. So much potential and great value at $59.

Note: The Farrs' experimental label, almost. Made from a leased vineyard in the namesake town (from the famed bakers of the area). The fruits use to go into the Farr Rising label, before it was deemed single vineyard-worthy in 2012. Distinctly different from the Farrs' homesite in the Bannockburn area - more inland, wetter. 6 acres PN, 2 acres Chard. For the 2015 PN - all MV6, no whole bunch, 30% new oak. — 8 years ago

Martin Mills

9.2

An excellent wine from what I'm told was a difficult vintage. Aromas burst from the glass -lovely honeyed red fruit and refined touch of oak. Classic Pinot colour, uniform, still youthful. Ripe fruit and tangy acidity on the palate, teeth coating sugars of cherry strawberry into cassis. Very yummy. Sourced at Avenue and Lawrence lcbo for $46 — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

On the nose, citrus blossom, lemon, lime, green melon, green apple and white flowers. On the palate, green melon, citrus, lemon, lime, grapefruit, banana peel, pineapple, yellow & white flowers with perfect acidity and nice round finish. Photos of a pano of the view from the their terrace, Cellar Door grounds and netted vines to protect them from being eaten by the birds. — 9 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

Wild tropical fruits, white flowers-jasmine burst out of the glass. On the palate; tropicals of melon balls, citrus, citrus blossoms, white peach, light, delicate, beautiful minerality, fresh bright acidity and a lean rich finish. Photos of a wide view of their terrace and great view. — 9 years ago

Aaron Tan

8.9

Not the biggest fan of Glover's Bannockburn whites. A bit heavy handed on the oak. Will benefit from time I'm sure. — 9 years ago