April 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews

TWO PADDOCKS PICNIC PINOT NOIR 2005

17 (****) Central Otago & Marlborough, New Zealand: 13%; $24

[screwcap]

Ruby, minutely deeper than the 2004 Last Chance. Bouquet is sweetly floral, in a buddleia style, with mixed red and black cherry fruit, seemingly more alcohol than the given 13%. Palate is softer, riper, less oaked and more easy-going than the more serious wine, but with lovely pinot flavours bespeaking a riper year than the 2004 examples. It is almost as if there were 3 g/L residual sugar to soften it. This is attractive ‘picnic’ pinot. Cellar 3 – 6 years.

© Copyright 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews