Central Otago "Roaring Meg" Pinot Noir 2014, Mt Difficulty

We had such a great tasting at Mt Difficulty I was glad that we didn't arrive on horseback as I would have had difficulty mounting my steed. While this is billed as the entry-level sub-brand it is so enjoyable and so well put together there is no reason not to sing it's praises. The pinot aromas leap out of the glass. Ripe, touching on very ripe cherry and plum. Zingy cooked rhubarb. Smoky. Yellow apple. Around 10% oak. New French oak. Aged for 10 months in the barrel. On the palate good ripe cherry and strawberry fruit, the latter dominant. Medium structure, quite long. Savoury finish. Very good. Mostly produced from Cromwell basin grapes. This assemblage from different parcels is a great success, think Bourgogne rouge on steroids, more like a top end Hautes Côtes de Beaune.