For the context of these tasting notes – all Pinot Noir and mostly from Central Otago – see Central Otago Pinot Noir – does it age? published yesterday, in which I discuss changes in viticulture and winemaking in relation to potential longevity.
The changes in style over the last decade in Central Otago – moderate use of stems where they are included, lighter extraction, less new oak, earlier picking – may not be universal but they are definitely infectious. As Rudi Bauer of Quartz Reef put it, 'We still talk to each other about our wines and what we do. This...