The first installment of a set of ten Pinot Noirs I tasted recently – for some reasons I posted the second installment first (it’s here), but hey, they’re both live now…

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand (£14.99 Majestic, Rhythm & Booze, Booths)
Bouncy young with plus, juicy cherry and briar fruit – also apple & blackberry pie – and a sappy finish. B+

Akarua ‘Rua’ Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand (£16.95 Harvey Nichols, Philglas & Swiggot, Cellarmarque, Woodwinters, Winearray, Woods Wines)
A more restrained style, with quite a stern, serious iron-like/minerally edge. However, there’s enough plummy raspberry and cherry flavour to stand up to this, and the finish is rich but fresh, suggesting this has plenty of life ahead of it. S(-)

Akarua Pinot Noir 2009, Central Otago, New Zealand (£21.95 Harvey Nichols, Philglas & Swiggot, Cellarmarque, Woodwinters, Winearray, Woods Wines)
A slightly fuller version of the above but also a more layered, complex version. There’s a touch more smoky oak, which gives notes of coffee and chocolate, similar cherry & red berry, and that same earthy minerality. A coiled spring that needs time to unfurl, but should be great in 2-3 years. S(+)

Wakefield Pinot Noir 2009, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£9.99-£10.99 Cheers, Nethergate Wines, Nidderdale Fine Wines, Taste Fine Wines, everywine.co.uk)
Has quite plush berry and cherry fruit, along with a jammy dodger edge, but it’s spoiled by the intrusion of mintiness which takes away the pleasure, C+

Tapanappa Foggy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009, Fleurieu Peninsula, Australia (£25 Fine & Rare Wines, Lea & Sandeman, Nidderdale Fine Wines, Nickolls & Perks, Noel Young)
A rich but restrained style, with warm, juicy red berry, a touch of herb and a minerally core. Nicely judged oak, and captures the exotic Pinot allure, but currently quite young and tight, and needing a couple more years to show its true colours. S

Nepenthe Pinot Noir 2008, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£9.99 Majestic, The Co-op)
Simple, bright and juicy style, pleasant red berry and cherry and a touch of mint (not as prominent as in the Wakefield), but the finish could use more charm. B-