April 2005, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews

TWO PADDOCKS THE LAST CHANCE PINOT NOIR 2003

18 ½ (*****) Central Otago, New Zealand: 13.5%; $38

[screwcap; 7 days cold-soak, wild yeast, 20% whole-bunch fermentation, 25 days cuvaison, c. 10 months in French oak 25%]

Good pinot noir ruby. Bouquet is total pinot, the florals of boronia and dusky roses, black cherries, deep, quieter than the Carrick, yet beautifully varietal. Palate shows a wine where fruit quality is uppermost, not dominated by oak, beautiful crunchy cherry fruit, long flavours recapturing the florals on bouquet, all really burgundian. Not quite the palate weight of the Carrick, though. Cellar 5 – 10 years.

© Copyright 2005, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews