Welcome to the first edition of Pinot Confidential for 2010.

In this edition we feature what is undoubtedly New Zealand's best known Pinot Noir, with the recently released 2008 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir. This has been widely rated as one of their finest in recent years and we are delighted to offer this wine to readers at the special price of $69.90

Also featured in this edition is the 2006 Curly Flat Pinot Noir from Victoria's Macedon Ranges. This is another stunning release from Curly Flat that is worthy of a place in the cellar of every Pinot lover.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Pinot Confidential.

The team at Auscellardoor

Ph - 1800 088 022

www.auscellardoor.com.au

2008 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir - $69.90

Ata Rangi is widely rated as the leading 'New World' example of Pinot Noir and the newly released 2008 vintage will only build on this reputation. The 2008 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is another exceptionally complex Pinot Noir from a fine vintage in Martinborough. As usual only very limited stocks of this wine are available.

"97/100. Complete and comforting from the very outset, Ata Rangi has delivered another benchmark pinot noir full of all the gently woven complexity and allure that sets the variety apart from most others. Like a tiny piece of Vosne-Romanee came to Martinborough; light, fragrant notes, fresh rose petals, a dusting of sweet spices and super-pure cherry fruits waft around the glass in regal formation. The palate is deliciously capricious at this young stage, for the first impression is of lightness and sheer elegance; it falls on the palate with feather-like impact then builds and builds and builds. It layers fine pastry-like sheets of tannin and arrives at a fine crescendo of flavour and pure pinot noir, leaving a comet-like trail in its wake. This is impeccably crafted; fine, powerful and truly worthy of Grand Cru status" - Nick Stock, Penguin Australia Good Wine Guide 2010.

"95 + Points. It has such a remarkable fragrance of roses and cherry essence that at first it presents as a simple, almost jubey wine, but given plenty of time it reveals further layers of complexity and settles down beautifully. It’s mid-weight (possibly light in an Ata Rangi context) and fluid with superb fine-grained tannin and excellent flavour persistence. A fine vintage for this great producer. It needs at least another couple of years in bottle, at which stage it may rate a little higher again. Tasted : Dec 09 Alcohol : 13.5% Price : $80 Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2012 - 2018" - Gary Walsh, The Wine Front.

"2008 was a very favourable vintage in Martinborough, with moderate yields and ideal temperatures and weather conditions throughout the season. Sourced largely from the oldest home blocks now reaching 29 years of age, Abel (aka the ‘Ata Rangi’ clone) is predominant, but Clone 5 (or Pomard) and Dijon clones 114, 115 and 667 play important supporting roles" - Notes from Ata Rangi.  

2006 Curly Flat Macedon Ranges Pinot Noir - $45.90

Long regarded as one of Australia's finest producers of Pinot Noir, the new vintage from Curly Flat will only strengthen this claim. The 2006 version is a classic Curly Flat Pinot Noir with an elegant structure, soft silky mouthfeel, dark cherry flavours and the long, lingering finish that we have come to expect from Curly Flat.

"95 Points. In the mainstream of the Curly Flat pinot style; supple, velvety red fruits open the story, and persisting while complex spicy/foresty notes whisper in the background. Pleasure now or later. Screwcap. 13.5% alc. Drink 2016 $46 Date Tasted Feb 09" - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2010 Edition.  

"95 Points. Curly Flat pinot noir has been on a steady rise but this is one out of the box. Jumps from the glass. Heady with perfume, strongly flavoured (for a pinot noir) and then keenly structured, and persistent, through the finish. This is a thrilling wine and inexpensive, in pinot noir terms, for the quality delivered. Quality cedary oak is laced through darkly cherried fruit flavour. Foresty elements. Earthen elements. Sappy elements. A stunning release. Closure : Screwcap Drink : 2009 - 2015" - Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, July 28, 2009.

"95 Points. Phillip Moraghan is one of the stars of modern Australian pinot making, the attention to detail and passion shows through in the vineyards, winemaking and resulting wines. Elegant, yet full, supple fresh strawberry fruit, high notes of earth/ forest add further complexity. Drink now or in five. $54. 13.5% alcohol. Macedon Ranges." - Tony Love, Top 100 Wines, The Advertiser, November 10 2009.  

"18/20. Drink 2010-20 Very exotic nose with immediate appeal. Already pretty complex. Lovely freshness and tension but strong mulberry flavours too. Great natural acidity. Heat early in the season. Second bottle: Even more vibrant nose. Real punchy racy stuff with lovely fruit and acidity." - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com.