Mount Michael 2003 Pinot Noir
Mount Michael 2003 Pinot Noir
Retail Price: Unknown
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Where you can buy this wine: Not available
ALC: 14%
Haydn gives this wine: 92 pts
I recently received a special wine gift from Station Imports, an import company I review wines from. In their latest shipment, they boxed in a 2003 Pinot Noir from New Zealand. The beauty in this bottle is the fact that this wine was secured with a cork, not a screw cap that is a standard in New Zealand (they’re too far away to get corks at a decent price).
The wine is showing its age with a duller brick color on the appearance. The rim is slightly muddied, not clear as you would find in a brand new Pinot Noir. On the nose, you can find bits of blackberries and a few cherries, though the cherries are a secondary thought. The nose is very pleasant.
A few slight, slight tannins could be felt on the mid-palalte, but they are more of a joy to taste than a hindrance. A full mouth-feel here, with the wine smoothly running over the taste buds. The wine continues to go for a full minute if not longer on the finish—beautiful. The blackberries continue on throughout the wine. No berry blasts or attacks of the mid-palate. The tannins softened this wine and made it gorgeous.
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Haydn Adams is the author of the book, Wineries Beyond Napa Valley: Dry Creek and Alexander Valley, an insider’s tasting guide to the hidden gems region. He also contributes to the Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog, writes for vinvillage.com, and can be found roaming the hills of Sonoma County looking for the next hidden gems. You can contact him at haydn@beyondnapavalley.com
