Central Otago Pinot's are generally more user-friendly than Burgundy; Rabbit Ranch is very soft fruit-forward style with soft tannins; best enjoyed young.

Rapaura Springs have turned plenty of heads with their current releases - the Reserve Pinot Noir is little short of jaw dropping. Drinking beautifully now expect a nose that's ripe, plush and jammed full of seductive fruit and spice smells, while textbook silky mouth-feel leads to a long fine finish. Drink it with five spice duck and rice.

Owned by actor Sam Neil, Two Paddocks is a small family owned winery in the prestigous Central Otago Region. The Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir shows good length and depth in its youth and will develop more complexity with bottle age.

Rockburn Pinot Noir is a ripe, fleshy pinot noir with black cherry, blackcurrant and toasty oak flavours. Good concentration and a silken texture with powerful sweet fruit flavours driving a lengthy finish.

Vibrant and fruity with juicy acid drive through to the finish with respectful ripe tannins. Designed for early drinking to enjoy on release. Perfect for lighter food pairings such as a savoury duck salad with a fresh fruit-based dressing.

Mud House have asserted a reputation for Pinot Noir in a crowded New Zealand marketplace by proving excellent varietal and terroir driven examples like this Golden Terraces Vineyard Pinot Noir from Central Otago at some great prices. With lifted aromas of dark cherry and berry fruit with underlying notes of mocha and cinnamon giving way to a sumptuous palate of bramble and spice characters with considerable length.

Rich and fresh flavour, bursting with juciy raspberry and cherry, framed by integrated savoury oak. Hints of liquorice and clove are accompanied by layers of delicate tanning, creating an opulent texture that flows to a smooth, lingering finish.

Delve into layers of dense aromas of ripe cherry and plum, leading to intense berry flavours with spiced mocha warmth. Smooth, firm tannins provide length and poise.

A herbal, floral and slightly 'funky' nose leads to dark, brooding red fruits with impeccable poise and balance. Great length.

Freshly picked strawberries, raspberries and red rose petals on opening, followed by darker notes of black cherry, roasted star anise and cinnamon. The palate is juicy and soft, with fine tannins and bright acidity. A perfect and accessible snapshot of Central Otago.