This is my first wine review on LilacWine.co.uk, for which I have chosen a Pinot Noir from the Central Otago region of New Zealand. Although identified as an area of great potential for wine growing in the late nineteenth century, it was not until the middle of the 1990s that vineyard plantations in Central Otago really started to expand. Pinot Noir is the most widely grown grape variety accounting for around 70% of plantings in Cenral Otago and, despite being a notoriously fickle grape to grow, has found a home outside Burgundy in the most southerly wine region in the world.
Located in Bannockburn, boutique winery Mount Difficulty started planting grapes in 1992, making its vines amongst the oldest in Central Otago. Roaring Meg is the entry level range with estate and single vineyard wines are also produced.
This wine has an intense, but not overpowering, warm and spicy aroma, nicely integrated with ripe red fruits (strawberry and cherry). On the palate the juicy berry fruits combine with delicate white pepper and herb flavours. The refreshing acidity and soft tannins combine to give a well balanced, medium-bodied wine that sits well on the mid-palate and leaves a nice long finish. The alcohol level may seem high at 14% but is matched by the intensity of flavour. Whilst fairly straight forward and not overly complex, this wine offers very good value for money.