Pinot Noir for wine lovers (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pinot Noir for wine lovers

4:20pm Monday 7th March 2011 in Tipping's Tipples

Despite what my friends might think, I’m not difficult to buy for at Christmas. “Surely you don’t want a bottle of wine?” they enquire. “Umm, yes please,” I reply without hesitation.

My friends think I have enough wine already, but this simply isn’t the case (pardon the pun). Yes, I am sent many tasting samples in the run-up to Crimbo, but these are analysed and notes scribbled way before the festivities begin.

Fortuitously, there was a good selection of wine bottle-shaped presents waiting for me under the tree last December. All were very much appreciated, but my favourite was an excellent pinot noir from New Zealand. It went down a storm with Christmas dinner, so much so I thought I would treat myself to another bottle to have with dinner at New Year. But there was a logistics problem: the price!

From the Marlborough region of New Zealand, Dog Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008 is nothing short of awesome, but it will set you back just shy of £25. Rich, velvety, elegant and balanced to perfection, it has long flavours of cherry, redcurrant, mocha coffee and clove. Expensive yes, but compare it to any red Burgundy at a similar price and I’d wager the Kiwi wine would win every time.

Of course you don’t have to spend that sort of money to get a good bottle of Kiwi pinot noir, but it rarely comes cheaply. There are good reasons for this, which would take up more space then I’m allotted, but in a nutshell it is a challenging grape varietal for winemakers.

However, I’ve done some research on your behalf and come up with a pair of Marlborough pinot noirs which are more affordable, although not in what you would describe as the bargain basement.

The only one to come in under a tenner is Ocean’s Edge Pinot Noir 2008, which you will find at Tesco. Flavoursome stuff, it is ripe with cherry and red berry flavours, hints of smoke and cinnamon.

Or Virgin Wines has the smooth-textured Walnut Block Pinot Noir 2008, which whips up flavours of raspberry, cherry and rosehip with clove. It has a racy, good with food, acidity too.

And don’t forget that pinot noir is all the better chilled in the fridge for 30 minutes, when the days get hotter.

• Dog Point Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, £24.35 at Field & Fawcett 19/20.

• Ocean’s Edge Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, £9.49 at Tesco 16/20.

• Walnut Block Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough,, £15.99 from Virgin Wines 17/20.