With the end of the year drawing ever so closer with every tick of the second hand, I felt it was appropriate to list my personal list of the top 10 wines of the year. These wines did not always score the highest, and I am sure Robert Parker’s list would look considerably different than mine. However, they each wine has a reason for being on the list.

Happy New Year, and enjoy,
Haydn Adams

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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

2007 Pinot Noir by Sleeping Dogs
by Haydn Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Blog

Retail Price: Unknown
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Where you can buy this wine: Station Imports
ALC: 13%
Haydn gives this wine: 89 pts

The first thing you’ll notice about this wine is that is a bit more on the sweeter end of Pinot world. Not big cherries hitting you in the face, not dirt either for that matter. What you will pick up is a bit of honey (yes, in a Pinot) and a bit of deeper purple-colored fruit, such as a blackberry. The nose is very well structured and the aromas almost seem to caress the senses.

The fruit-forwardness continues to show on the mid-palate. There is a still a little bit of honey lingering in this wine. Such a new and delightful twist for a Pinot to have. What is also beautiful about this wine is the very low tannins. For being a 2007, I’m a bit surprised but equally happy. I really don’t like the way young Pinots grip your mouth not allowing you to taste anything else but tannins. 

The best part about this wine is it’s alcohol content. I’m so happy to be drinking a wine that is hitting at 13%. I guess all of the big Zins from the past week added to my gripe over California’s over alcoholic wines. I want to enjoy a glass or two, not throw down a shot. This wine would be perfect for a summer time picnic. I’d give it a slight chill if taking outside. 

Once again, a beautiful showing from the Central Otago region, the hottest Pinot region anywhere in the world today.

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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

Sleeping Dogs 2007 Chardonnay
by Haydn Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog

Appalachian: Cental Otago, New Zealand
Alc: 14%
Haydn gives it: 89pts
You can buy this wine from: Station Imports

While the Chardonnay grape basks in the glory of being one the world’s most planted grape, it is mainly a distant memory in the eyes of growers from New Zealand. While, yes, this hearty grape could probably any weather you throw at it, New Zealand’s microclimates are better suited for Sauvignon Blancs. You it came as a surprise and a delight to review a Chardonnay from New Zealand.

At first glance, you could mistake this for a Sauvignon Blanc. The golden yellow that is normally the hallmark for Chardonnays is replaced here with a yellow-green color cast, though heavy on the yellow.

The aromas are extremely pleasant, with hints of butter but also a little pear. I’m curious if this wine went through stainless steel fermination and then hit some oak for a little while. In any case, the wine has a beautiful bouquet, and is sure to delight most Chardonnay drinkers.

Tasting the wine, I find the same butter but with some minerality. The wine is lighter than it’s California couterparts (I was just in Napa yesterday and let me tell you, the butter bandit was out in force). There is also a bit of honey that also comes out, especially on the finish. From start to finish, an extremely pleasant and easy-to-drink wine. Very little oak could be felt, which is a delight.

Overall, a very well-made wine. I’m glad to see the Chardonnay get some attention in New Zealand. With New Zealand dominated by Sauvignon Blancs, it is good to know that other white varietals can and do thrive in the climate of Central Otago.

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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 of the 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.

Review of the 2005 Nevis Bluff 2005 Pinot Noir
by: Haydn S. Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Wine Blog

Retail Price: $22.00
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Where you can buy this wine: Station Imports
ALC: 13%
Haydn gives this wine: 89 pts

New Zealand’s Central Otago wine region is the up and coming destination for all things Pinot Noir. It comes as no surprise as this well made beauty can be found. Balanced, smooth with soft hints of spice, bing cherry, a little plum and just a tad smoky.

The appearance of this Pinot is bit light. The rim is still nice and clear, but the color is starting to wane. Compared with the 2006 Pinot Noir from Nevis Bluff, this wine is starting to show it’s age (but only in color I remind you). While the color might appear a bit light, the aromas and tastes are mighty strong.

Right away on the nose, you can pick up a pleasant amount of cherries with just a pinch of smoke and spice, further giving indication of it’s age. The aromas are harmonious. This is one of the smoothest noses on a Pinot I’ve had in a while.

On the palate, you are presented with a bit more cherries. Yet, they also pick up along their way a bit of asian spice and smoke. They are not that powerful, leaving you with more fruit that smoke. No tannins whatsoever. Simply gorgous on the mid-palate. The finish drifts off nicely, albiet a tad quick. This was the reason why it didn’t break the 90 point mark. It just seemed to fall soon after sipping this wine.

However, aside from the short length, this wine is ready for drinking now. You can cellar this one, but given the years already with screw-top, there is no real reason for cellaring it for too long. Simply gorgeous. Kudos to the wine maker. A beautiful wine from start to finish.

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Haydn S. Adams is a wine author and reviews wines for wineries all over the world. He currently writes for vinvillage.com along with his own wine review site at www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/.

2006 Nevis Bluff Pinot Noir
by Haydn S. Adams | Beyond Napa Valley Blog

Retail Price: $26.50
Appellation: Central Otago, New Zealand
Purchase at: stationimports.com
Haydn gives it 87 points

This wine shines in the glass, with a beautiful display of a gleaming brick red color. It’s only 2 years old and has the enthusiasm of being young and fresh with the rim further confirming its youthfulness. Yet don’t let the color of this wine throw you off. What it lacks in density, it picks up on the palate.

The aromas on the nose were pleasant, with hints of blackberry and cranberry, dancing beautifully together. There are no hints of earth or dirt at first in this wine. I imagine, after laying down in the cellar, that it would pick up a little, but overall, you’ll be smelling fruit.

The palate of this wine picks up some spiciness characteristics immediately on the tongue and at first, even attacks the front part of my tongue. In addition, a fair bit of tannins could be felt with this wine. On the mid-palate, along with the spicy aspect were still the blackberry and cranberry components. The wine was fairly silky and slipped right along and straight on to the finish. 

The spicy aspect of the wine dropped off and the berries continued to linger for just a little bit longer on the finish. I was hoping for a bit more to happen at the end, but it will delivered a smile to my mouth. 

While you could drink this solo, I’d probably recommend some sort of meal to go along with this wine, possibly a game hen or some type of turkey dish. The wine is a wonderful deal for its price point at $26.50. It’s a good wine to get a taste of Central Otago. 

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Haydn S. Adams is a wine author and reviews wines for wineries all over the world. For all reviews, check out his blog at www.beyondnapavalley.com/blog/