Crown Range Cellar Signature Series Bannockburn Pinot Noir by Grant Taylor 2013
Grant Taylor is one of New Zealand's most awarded pinot noir winemakers, earning a Smaug's-stash of gold medals and trophies throughout his illustrious career. He's a pinot hero and this wine proves it. Exotically scented with rose-hip, cherry, dark chocolate and musky truffle, it's also lithe and elegantly structured on the palate. Saturated with dark berries and spice and ultra-long on flavour, it's drinking beautifully now, but consider how it'll evolve with another year or seven in the cellar.
Price: $172.50
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2013
The much-anticipated new release from Craggy, the recently awarded "New World Winery of the Year" is definitely not disappointing in the taste-stakes. Bursting with ripe black cherries and cream, soft chai spices, milk chocolate tones and pomegranate on the palate. It's refreshing yet earthy and has rich complexity on the finish.
Price: $42.95
Temple Bruer Preservative-Free Certified Organic Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2013
Totally unique for all the things it doesn't have! No SO2, no animal-based fining agents and certified organic. This vegan-friendly red boasts bright purple-black colour, intense aromas of cracked pepper, violets, blueberries and fresh tar. To drink, it's ultra-fresh, zesty and crammed with bright fruit, dried herbs and a smorgasbord of spices. This is one of the best preservative-free wines I've tried in years.
Price: $25
