Pinot noir hits the spot

'Here could be the future' of burgandy

SUE FEA/Fairfax NZ

RIVALS IN RED: Burgundy winegrower Thibault Liger-Belair reckons growers in the famed French pinot noir region should be worried, after he tasted Central Otago pinot noirs at Northburn Station.

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Wine producers in the world's most renowned pinot noir region of Burgundy in France should be worried, according to one of their own.

A top French winegrower, Thibault Liger-Belair, of Burgundy, who will address delegates at the Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration in Queenstown today, said he was blown away by the quality of the maturing Central Otago pinot noirs.

"I am very worried about Burgundy wine because this wine is so good."

Mr Liger-Belair produces 17 different wines and said he had tasted a large number of Central Otago pinot noirs yesterday during the Grand Pinot Noir Tasting at The Shed on Northburn Station and each was different.

As the relatively young winegrowing region matured, powerful new flavours were emerging that came from a greater precision and balance in the soil.

"We are seeing more energy in the wine."

Experts who had flown in from around the world to address delegates said distinct regional flavours were now emerging from the pinot noirs produced in the Pisa Ranges, Bannockburn and Gibbston. There was more balance in the soil as the vines matured and roots grew deeper.

"I am worried because Burgundy is the most famous pinot noir region and here could be the future," Mr Liger-Belair said.

British wine writer Christine Austin was pleasantly surprised about several new wines.

Wild Earth was now established on Britain's shop shelves and had a wonderful flavour, as did Mt Edward and Pisa Range wines. A new Felton Road wine, Desert Heart, had also impressed her.

And there were her old favourites, Cromwell-based Rudi Bauer's Quartz Reef wines, Rippon, Mt Difficulty and Felton Road.

New York wine writer Erica Duecy said she was "totally impressed" with the complexity and sophistication of the wines. "They've just blown me away, they're fantastic."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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