2012 New Zealand

New Zealand’s Doctors Flat is a genuine artisanal wine, produced from a small organic vineyard in Central Otago. It appears that the 2012 vintage was a huge success in the region – an area rapidly developing into one of the world’s finest for the Pinot Noir grape variety.

The first release was 2008. Since then, and as the vines have developed, Doctors Flat has begun to develop great character, described as "a slightly spicy, violet, blackberry component” evident in all the releases to date. Production is very limited to around 1800-2000 bottles annually.

This wine is developing a cult following over the past few years and has gained praise from the trade and wine critics the world over : “Steve Davies makes one of Central’s loveliest Pinots…” according to Jane Skilton MW. This will be a lovely wine to keep for the next 3+ years and is one of the best expressions of Central Otago Pinot Noir we have come across.

"A beautiful mid red, glowing with fruit. Very fine balanced bouquet, a little touch of raspberry with some ripe cherry notes. Very suave yet energetic rather than smooth, this is brilliant! Mouth filling but discreet, ripe by not sweet, this is a coming of age wine for the region."
Jasper Morris MW, New Zealand Buyer

This is typically made up of one third each from the three vineyard sites, Calvert, Cornish Point and the original Elms Vineyard. The 2012 is full of energy yet with a maturity of material compared to the early years. Ripe but fresh, excellent length. Exceptionally fine texture.
Jasper Morris MW - Wine Buyer 

Succulent roast lamb, rosemary, new potatoes, fresh peas, mint, butter and all washed down with a fruity yet elegant glass of Pinot Noir...what's not to like? In the wine trade there is much talk of 'place' and the importance of different vineyard sites, soil types and climatic conditions; this attention to one's surroundings extends far further than the wine itself and very often helps when making food and wine pairings, as local cuisines can evolve to suit their vinous counterparts.

New Zealand has long been exporting both lamb and wine and it therefore seems sensible for us to pair the two, despite being many miles from source. Felton Road's Bannockburn Pinot Noir is a blend of fruit from each of their vineyards sites, namely Calvert, Cornish Point and Elms. The fruit is as ripe as one would hope for from a New World Pinot, however there's a European restraint about the wine-making which adds extra depth and complexity. All that's required now is friends and/or family, a long table and the first flush of spring for all of these ingredients to combine perfectly. 
Nicholas Stewart - Wine Buying Team

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2012 Syrah has a great core of plums and blackberry preserves with black pepper, dried herbs and licorice accents. Medium-bodied with remarkable texture - both velvety and grainy - it offers mouth-filling pepper laced flavors and a lively acid backbone, finishing long.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Jan 2015