2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir
The 2006 Pinot Noir has a lovely nose with superb delineation: black cherries, talcum, plum and a touch of violets (far superior to the somewhat disappointing 2005). The palate is medium-bodied, very well-balanced with very good acidity. There is a natural quality to this wine, a personality that I find difficult to find in other Cloudy Bay releases. Crisp cherry, strawberry and a little iodine on the finish, nice and crisp, this is a great Pinot Noir that should drink over the next 3-5 years. Cloudy Bay needs no introduction: unquestionably the winery that put New Zealand on the international map and presciently understood the aesthetic appeal of an emotive label. Now part of the LVMH portfolio, the winery is a magnet for visitors to Marlborough. They farm around 200 hectares of vines in the Wairau Valley, Renwick and Omaka Valleys augmented by five grape-growers under long-term contracts. Of course historical significance bears nothing upon my evaluation and whilst there is nothing particularly wrong with Cloudy Bay’s range, they lacked the thrills and perhaps the soul of other New Zealand wines that I encountered, as if the wines err on the side of caution in order not to imperil its worldwide reputation. In essence, I would like to see less of “Cloudy Bay” the brand and more of Kevin Judd, the talented winemaker. Importer: Moet Hennessy USA, New York, NY; tel. (212) 251-8200
Rating: 90 Estimated Cost: $35-$49

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2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir