Cobblestone Pinot Noir Martinborough Te Muna 2009

Had in November at meal with pork chops in a mustard cream gravy, with noodles, baquette and salad. Surprisingly good NZ pinot noir, and it enhanced the meal as a good match. Better-shaped fruit, balance, character and cut than most pinots from Martinborough I've had, especially in the face of 15% alcohol. Definitely hinted at Burgundy more than most from there. This an inaugural offering from Cobblestone out of California but operating in New Zealand. I had no expectations but was pleasantly surprised. The alcohol didn't burn hot but was balanced by the fruit. Relatively good tannins but perhaps not quite enough acid for very long aging, though it's drinking quite well now and should for a while. Only time will tell about that, anyway. I'd certainly be curious to try one five years from now, then again five years after that. Opened the bottle one hour before drinking. Some herbs and flowers and forest floor on the nose, with more than a hint of a lurking closedness that makes me think it could just mature well with age. Good pinot fruit that made me think of Burgundy but also return to New Zealand, yet with more elegance and form than most from there. Plums and cherries and light earthiness on the palate. Some residual sweetness, confirming its New World identity. Medium-plus finish. Was quite young, even if drinkable in youth. Felt it would've benefited from a double decant and maybe even three hours breathing. A very good start for the new winery and owners from far across the Pacific. I'll be very interested in what comes from them in the future....

This wine is intriguing because of its seeming tendency to blend the lines of New World and Burgundy, Delicacy and Boldness, Elegance and Power. This wine has a big core of red plum and cherries but it also shows delicate forest floor and flowers. Its full bodied yet never felt heavy, in fact just the opposite. The wine's balance seems so precarious that anything different in winery or vintage would've thrown it all out of whack. Thankfully, though, it seems everything was done right and the wine came out harmonious!