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Recently two of New Zealand’s best known Pinot Noir wine critics have tasted every vintage of Grasshopper Roc k Pinot Noir and posted their findings.
Most recently in March 2011 Raymond Chan reviewed the 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 vintages. Raymond is highly regarded as having one of New Zealand’s finest palates for tasting wine. Raymond now runs his own website www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz
In November 2010 Geoff Kelly completed a very interest tasting of the 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintages alongside Pinot Noir from Burgundy produced by one of Burgundy’s top producers Domaine Rousseau. Separately in Sep 2010 Geoff tasted our 2009 vintage alongside a large selection of Central Otago’s 2009 Pinots. Geoff is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most experience Pinot Noir authorities and often presents tastings of aged wines. Geoff runs his own website www.geoffkellywinereviews.co.nz
The full reviews are posted below and are linked to the appropriate websites which we encourage you to visit and follow.
The reviews show the quality progression from the first vintage in 2006 to the latest release. The reviews also show Grasshopper Rock vineyard is already producing very exciting wine from vines that were only planted in 2003. Increasing vine age will continue to add a further dimension to the wine.
The Reviews
Raymond Chan
View Link
Grasshopper Rock ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2006 ***
The debut vintage for Grasshopper Rock, from vines planted in 2003. Fermented to 13.3% alc. and aged in French oak approx.10 months. Medium deep ruby-red in colour with some garnet hues on the edge, this has an elegant, soft ethereal nose of floral perfumes, red fruits, dried herbs and mushrooms. Medium-full bodied, this has a gently flavoured palate with cooler spectrum red berry fruits, herbs, mushrooms and forest floor elements. While there is good acidity, the tannins are drying and a little grippy on the finish. A wine of the vintage. Drink over the next 3+ years with seafood and poultry. 16.5+/20 Mar 2011 Not Available
Grasshopper Rock ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007 ****
Very dark, deep, intensely coloured, black-red and youthful in appearance, this has a very powerful, dense and concentrated nose of ripe black fruits along with some secondary savoury dried herb and earth elements, supported by a little oak. On palate, a powerfully dense wine with earthy black berry fruits and complexing dried herb notes. This is seriously constructed with fine, firm tannins and good acidity for tension. A muscular wine, this will keep for at least 6-8 years. Made from clones 667, 777, 115, Abel, 5 and 114, with 2-5% whole bunch, fermented to 13.5% alc., then aged approx. 10 months in French oak. 18.0/20 Mar 2011 Not Available
Grasshopper Rock ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 *****
Clones 667, 777, 115, Abel, 5 and 114 from a north facing slope on Earnscleugh Road, 2-5% whole bunch and fermented to 14.2% alc, then aged 10 months in approx.. 33% new French barriques. Dark, deep ruby-red colour, this has a beautifully perfumed nose of pure, lifted red berry fruits and dark red florals, quite intense and piercing. Elegant and tightly constructed, the palate is sweet and succulent with layers of ethereal florals and red berry fruits. The extraction is restrained and fine-grained tannins are well-balanced by good acidity. This is a classy wine with a long, sustained finish. Match with roasted duck over the next 5-6+ years. 18.5+/20 Mar 2011
Grasshopper Rock ‘Earnscleugh Vineyard’ Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 *****
Very dark, deep, black hued ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues, this has a very full, richly ripe nose of concentrated earthy, dark berry fruits, revealing layers with game and ink. Full, dense, weighty and concentrated, this has plenty of juiciness to the ripe dark cherry, berry and plum fruits. The tannins are firm, but fine and supple, the mouthfeel quite rounded. There is a slipperiness from the acidity. Made from clones 667, 777, 115, Abel, 5 and 114 with 2-5% whole bunch, fermented to 14.1% alc., then aged approx.. 10 months in around 33% new French oak. Drink with roasted game meat over the next 5-7 years. 18.5-/20 Mar 2011
Geoff Kelly
View Link 1, View Link 2
2006 Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir Earnscleugh 16 ½ + ***
Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand: 13.3%; $ – [ screwcap; if anything like the 2008, c. 5% whole bunch; 10 months in French oak, 30% new ]
Lightish pinot noir ruby. First impression on bouquet is oak, on modest red fruits, fragrant but not floral. Palate is in keeping, but there is better fruit than supposed, all red fruits with a touch of red currants, not exactly stalky. On palate though, alongside the Rousseau village wine, it is clearly a little leafy. It is still attractive wine at its point of ripeness, setting the foundation for evolution through to the delightful 2008 vintage from Grasshopper. Cellar 2 – 4 years. GK 11/10
2007 Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir Earnscleugh 17 + ****
Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand: 13.5%; $ – [ screwcap; if like the 2008, c. 5% whole bunch; 10 months in French oak, 30% new]
Good pinot noir ruby, darker than The Pinnacle, above midway. Bouquet is explicitly floral and fragrant pinot noir, the quality of the floral notes very diverse, from buddleia to boronia (which is perfectly possible if several ripeness levels are harvested). Purity is excellent. Flavours are red cherry grading to black, the wine a little fleshy and soft as if under-oaked, a little blackboy peach weakening the focus. This does not seem to have the grip of the 2008 wine, just a hint of leafyness and less even fruit ripeness / quality maybe. Cellar 3 – 8 years. GK 11/10
2008 Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir Earnscleugh 18 ½ *****
Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand: 14.2%; $36 [ screwcap; 5% whole bunch; 10 months in French oak, 30% new ]
Beautiful pinot noir ruby, fractionally lighter than The Pinnacle. This is wonderful wine, exquisitely pure light and fine on sweet buddleia, red roses and red cherry aromas, so much so one doesn't immediately register quite how burgundian / Cote de Beaune it is. This bouquet is very special, and a little unusual for Central Otago, where the average of the pinot noirs tends darker. In mouth the red fruits expand, some black cherry now too, and the fruit richness seems almost sweet, giving a tactile impression of dry extract. Oaking is beautifully subtle. Textbook pinot noir, with much better physiological maturity than the 2007, and affordable, to cellar 3 – 8 years. VALUE. GK 11/10
2009 Grasshopper Rock Pinot Noir 18 ****
Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand: 14.1%; [ screwcap; hand-picked and sorted; thought to be 5% whole bunch; 10 months in French oak, 30% new; www.grasshopperrock.co.nz ]
Pinot noir ruby. In its light fragrant but highly varietal style, this wine reminded me of the 2008 Martinborough Vineyard wine from Pinot Noir 2010. There are sweet florals spanning from buddleia to darker roses, on red cherry fruit. Palate is a little lighter and fresher than the bouquet promised, but cellaring the wine will produce a pinot confuseable with some Cote de Nuits wines – even at premier cru level. Real promise here, to cellar 3 – 8 years. VALUE GK 09/10
Phil
March 2011
Note: Raymond Chan Wine Reviews charges $33+GST/bottle for tastings
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