Central Otago Pinot Noir 2011, Peregrine Wines

The 2011 vintage is the only recent harvest which struggled to achieve good ripeness in the Central Otago Valley so it shows quite some confidence from Peregrine Wines that they show the wine at their funky cellar door tasting room. An initial nose of strawberry, straw and dried sphagnum moss with a soupçon of balsa wood. Echoes of 2004 Burgundy. Dried black currants, autumn leaves. Games, dried orange. Integrated, blood orange, fresh raspberry and cranberry. Both high-toned and mineral. At the peak of its powers now. Shows solid wine-making skill. Not a star compared to the rich and elegant 2014 but nevertheless a success.