2016 A1 Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Akitu A1, from the sub-region of Cromwell, offers simple tertiary red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied, displaying grainy tannin and dark berry fruit laced with brown spices and cola, and the gentle, soft finish is classically inspired.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Pale crimson. Very much more interesting nose than on A2 2016. Layers of vegetables and minerals with a nice undertow of ripe, but not sweet, fruit. Very racy and appetising. This could be drunk without food or with cheese or vegetable dishes. Very light tannins. Nice lingering finish. This lasted well in an opened bottle in a cool cellar. Firm impact on the palate. (JR)
The 2016 Pinot Noir A1 was vinified as 40% whole bunches, and there's a definite herbal-stemmy-tea-like note associated with that, but it's attractive and well balanced by ripe black cherry fruit. It's full-bodied, with supple tannins, and the 25% new French oak isn't obvious, being already well integrated into the rest of the wine. Dried spices and fine-grained tannins fan out across the long finish.