Critic tasting note: "Moderate ruby-red colour, even colour throughout. This has a lifted, savoury bouquet, aromas of forest floor and mushroom melded with thyme, spice, violet, cherry and loganberry. Medium-full bodied, aromas of dark cherry, loganberry and violet entwined with black pepper, liquorice, cinnamon, nutmeg, thyme and forest floor. Fine-grained, smooth tannins brace a structured palate, unfolding savoury details; integrated acidity persists to a lasting, spiced finish. This Pinot Noir is well-structured with texture, grip, and savour qualities; integrated acidity persists in length and spice details. Match with lamb and duck over the next 15 years. Fruit from Hall Road, fermented with 30% whole bunches to 13.5% alc, aged 11 months in French oak barrels, 28% new oak. 1,060 dozen produced. 19/20 pts (95 pts) Dec 2022 RRP $75" - 19/20, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
'Bright garnet hue with a lifted fragrance that mingles dried florals, fresh mint, wild thyme, Otago cherry, mulberry, and new leather. The flavours complement the aromas with forest fruits, lush florals and an intriguing flinty note. Immediately fresh, the finely textured palate builds in the mouth and crescendos with appropriate grip and incredible persistence. Vibrant at release, this wine is apt for cellaring and will continue to evolve for 15+/-years.' Jen Parr - August 2022
ABOUT `VALLI VINEYARDS`
VALLI is the personal vocation of pioneering winemaker Grant Taylor. Grant’s name is synonymous with Otago Pinot Noir. He has been crafting wines there since 1993 when there were only 20 ha planted – today there are over 2000. Grant founded VALLI in 1998 with the intention to produce single vineyard Pinot Noirs highlighting the different characteristics of Otago’s sub regions. More than 20 years later, VALLI is doing just that, producing single-vineyard pinot noirs from Gibbston, Bannockburn, and Bendigo in Central Otago and the Waitaki Valley in North Otago, as well as a dry Pinot Gris from Gibbston and a Riesling from Waitaki. In 2015, established Otago winemaker Jen Parr joined Grant in the winery where the two aim to create wines with honesty, integrity, and most of all, a sense of place. When you drink a Valli wine, you are enjoying more than just a wine: you are experiencing a place.
