Dry River Martinborough Pinot Noir 2016 (750ML)

92 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "While the 2016 Pinot Noir lacks the richness and depth of the powerful 2015, it's more approachable and charming, with black cherries and raspberries leading the way. It's medium-bodied and silky in texture, with herbal notes and some gentle tea-like tannins, but layered and long on the intricately detailed finish." 02/19

96 Points, James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com: "A majestic but youthful nose with an array of complex fruits from pomegranate to red cherry, raspberry and boysenberry as well as leaves and herbal notes, and a reticent earthy spices layer. The palate has a very succulent, fresh and elegant mid-palate with focused, tight-set tannins that have a remarkable precision. Sharply focused and extremely long. Power with finesse. Some smoky, whole-bunch notes to close. An excellent wine. Best from 2022." 12/17

93 Points, Rebecca Gibb, Decanter: "Since 2003, Martinborough's first vineyard, planted in 1979, has been owned by Julian Robertson, the man behind New Zealand's most exclusive golf resorts. The viticulture and viniculture here is different to their neighbours on the Puruatanga Road: they practise extreme leaf plucking in the vineyard, no post-fermentation maceration in the winery, and no racking in barrel. The aim is for gentle, phenolic extraction and long-lived wine - and it seems to work. It's a light-bodied expression but isn't lacking concentration, with pretty floral tones, plum and cinnamon notes. While feminine in style, it has a savoury undertone with fine, powdery tannins and a medium length finish. It's approachable now for its prettiness, but you can put this into your cellar for up to a decade."