April 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews

TWO PADDOCKS PINOT NOIR 2005

17 ½ (****) Central Otago, New Zealand: 12.5%; $40

[screwcap; up to 10 days cold-soak; up to 14 days cuvaison; 11 months in French oak 30% new; due to small crops, there are no individual vineyard wines in 2005, just this one label.]

Pinot noir ruby, older than some '05s. Alongside the Cloudy Bay, bouquet on the Two Paddocks is slightly more complex and French in style, but less floral. Palate is no richer, but it is a little riper in its tannins, which coupled with brett at an absolute threshold level, gives it lovely savoury depth. This will be great with food, and will mature gracefully in cellar for 5 – 8 years

© Copyright 2007, Geoff Kelly Wine Reviews