April 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews

TWO PADDOCKS FIRST PADDOCK PINOT NOIR 2004

16 ½ (***) Central Otago, New Zealand: 13%; $40

[screwcap; cold soak and extended cuvaison to 4 weeks with wild yeast; 11 months in French oak 37% new]

Pinot noir ruby, one of the lightest. Bouquet is beautifully floral suggesting roses, on light fragrant red fruits such as strawberry and red cherry, for all the world like a Beaune village wine. Flavours are similar but a little stalky and acid, carefully oaked, all clearly in style for a cooler year. There is not the ripeness and richness of the delightful 2003 though.
Cellar 3 – 8 years.

© Copyright 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews