Pale to medium ruby in color, the 2011 Pinot Noir has an intensely perfumed nose with abundant floral scents of violets alongside pomegranate and cranberries, lavender and some earthy aromas. Medium-bodied and offering a good intensity of fruit, it has a medium level of fine tannins, balanced acid and a long finish. Drink it now to 2021+. A winery that really needs no introduction for NZ Pinot lovers, there’s not much for me to add about the long-serving, dedicated team behind Ata Rangi – they just go from strength to strength. The Pinots have always been great, and yet even in a world where the Pinot benchmark gets higher every year, Ata Rangi is better than ever. (Almost equally impressive though are Petrie and Craighall Chardonnays, clearly getting a lot of love in the cellar from highly skilled winemaker Helen Masters.)