Sarah-Kate and Dan Dineen have created baked berry, cherry and spicy brilliance in this Wanaka-grown wine, which also manages to ooze dried herb and smoky notes. Beautiful, balanced - buy some. www.maudewines.com
Thornbury Central Otago Pinot Noir 2010, $31.95
This is a dense, delicious pinot packed with black cherry, berry, anise and smoky tones while being ultra-fleshy and ripe in the mouth and showing superb length of flavour. Awesome value for money. www.thornbury.co.nz
This is a seriously sexy wine which manages to balance rich, concentrated cherry and berry flavours, layers of spice and ripe, rumpty tannins with elegance, balance and poise. Gorgeous. www.greystonewines.co.nz
Valli Vineyards Waitaki Pinot Noir 2010, $65
Lovely fruit complexity and great depth of flavour from this wine sourced from the South Canterbury/North Otago border. Firm tannins, layers of savoury notes and succulent fruit, it has personality to burn and makes a real impression. www.valliwine.co.nz
