WTN: Margrain Pinot Noir 2005

Martinborough

Dark red in the glass.

A very rich and complex nose: inky, tarry, smoky, black cherry, strawberry, spicy.

The wine, which was not decanted, started out very weighty, soft, rich and plump. With time, it became a bit leaner, but still retained the richness and intensity of flavours.

Very full in the mouth, thick, quite rich and intense, black cherry, strawberry, roasted notes, smoky, good acidity, earthy, light vegetal notes, peppery, spicy (cloves and cinnamon).

Black cherry, chocolate, earthy, with a light bitter streak on the finish.

One of the better wines I have had in quite a while.

Purchased at $65 (Canadian) from a restaurant wine list.

Bruce
Good to see a note on this - Oddbins over here stocked it for a while and the price IIRC was a very fair one (just over £10?). I reckon I would consider buying in a restaurant at that price, as I think £15 retail wouldn't be a bad price and nice to be able to pick something off a restaurant list that you know (and know is good).

I checked CT and there were two fairly indistinct TNs from me on the 2002

2002 Margrain Pinot Noir - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (6/3/2006)
An improvement on the previous bottle and I suspect this is now at or near peak. There is much more complexity than you'd expect at £10 a bottle and it's more in the red cherry spectrum, than raspberry. There's a touch of bitterness that perhaps detracts, but it's not dominant and less than say a chianti.

2002 Margrain Pinot Noir - New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough (1/5/2006)
Shows reasonable pinot typicity. Though the acid is perhaps a touch dominant still, this is a relatively well integrated wine. It might be better in a year or two, but wouldn't expect any improvement after 2006/7. Fair value at £10

I've not had the opportunity to taste Margrain's Pinot Noir but can recommend their botrytis Riesling.

Best
Rogov

Margraine, Riesling Botrytis, Martinborough, 2004: Light honeyed overtones, its not exaggerated sweetness set off by lively acidity and appealing pineapple tangerine and spice flavors. Generous and silky on the palate, with balance and elegance. Perhaps best as an aperitif. Drink now-2010. Score 92. (Tasted 20 Apr 2006)