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A1 Pinot Noir, Akitu 2016

RegionNew Zealand
Subregion New Zealand > Central Otago
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyPinot Noir

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Label

Tasting Notes

The 2016 is showing superbly with a little bottle age, fulfilling the potential we tasted five years ago. Mid ruby-garnet in colour, it has an alluring nose of pristine sweet red cherry, nutmeg, star anise and wood spice. The palate is silky smooth, with fine and ripe tannins now fully integrated into the glossy fruit at the core. Steeped strawberries, baking spices and a hint of cherry cola are met with subtle notes of leather and game. The fruit still dominates, generous without being heavy. Cinnamon and red fruits linger on a long, moreish finish. Drinking superbly now, this will be delicious over the coming decade.

94
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, September 2023

Gold Trophy
Delightful, harmonious, elegant Pinot with complex flavours of a savoury, dark fruit, leafy notes and hints of smoky oak. Delicious; still in its youth. Vibrant, youthful wine with all to play for.

96
-, International Wine Challenge, January 2018

Subtle cherry on the nose. The palate is a lovely expression of unforced balance, an interplay between aromatic, ripe fruit and bracing freshness with a lovely savoury glint. Nothing is overdone here.

94
Anne Krebiehl MW, Decanter.com, May 2018

Akitu's flagship black label wine shows more concentration than the regular label and more backbone. It has bright cherry, red rose, raspberry, herb and sappy, spicy flavours. 40% whole bunches in fermentation. A youthful and firmly-structured wine that should develop well with bottle age. Drink 2018 to 2024

93
Bob Campbell MW, bobcampbell.nz, December 2017

Black label. 14% alcohol. Clones: 68% Abel, 16% UCD 5, 16% Dijon 777, with 40% whole bunch, balance whole berry and 25% new French oak. This is dense and quite textural with some bitter damson and plum notes hiding behind sweet black cherries, good acidity and some nice fine-grained tannins. Juicy and bright with great balance. Some fine herbal notes alongside the supple black fruits. With some grippy tannin, this is a bit chunkier and more serious than the A2, and has the potential to develop.

95
Jamie Goode, Wineanorak.com, November 2018
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.