NZ Best Value Pinot
26/02/2010
New Zealand is making more good value Pinot Noir than any other country, Matthew Jukes says on the publication of his third Classification of New Zealand Pinot Noir.
Jukes, one of the UK's best-known wine critics, and Australian wine journalist Tyson Stelzer have published the classification for the last three years.
Awards are based on an average rating of the five most recent vintages and are designed to help the trade and consumers decide which are the finest producers of New Zealand Pinot, with a classification of 5 being awarded to the top estates.
Now New Zealand can rightly claim to make the best good value Pinot in the world, says Jukes - and Wild Rock rates among the top 50 in the country, receiving a coveted one star. The critics note that inclusion, even at level 1, is a commendable performance as the majority of estates have not yet achieved this level.
The announcement follows Jukes giving the 2008 Wild Rock Cupids Arrow Central Otago Pinot Noir 17.5 points out of 20 at a tasting during the Pinot Noir 2010 conference in Wellington and the 2008 Wild Rock Strugglers Flat Martinborough Pinot Noir winning a Blue-Gold Award and Top 100 status at the Sydney International Wine Competition 2010.
