Ruby-purple in color, the 2009 Heritage Collection Nor’wester Pinot Noir has delicate to moderately intense aromas of red cherries, warm strawberries and rose petals with a whiff of moss covered tree bark. Medium bodied with a good amount of fresh berry flavor, it has crisp acid, silky tannins and a long finish. Drink this one now to 2015. Sherwood Estate was started 25 years ago by Dayne and Jill Sherwood. They now have 8 vineyards covering 200 acres - 3 in Marlborough and 5 in Waipara. “Waipara has good mid-palate weight compared to Marlborough with lower cropping in general and the tannins tend to be a bit firmer,” Dayne commented during my visit in July 2011. The wines are naturally fermented using indigenous yeast. The “Heritage” range is made purely with Waipara fruit, with these wines in particular aiming at “being different from your average NZ wine”. These guys are doing a commendable job and their prices offer incredible value.Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030

From the Stirling Vineyard and aged for 10 months in French barriques, the 2006 Heritage Collection Nor-wester Pinot Noir has an attractive raspberry leaf and dark plum bouquet that tickles the senses into submission. The palate is well balanced, full in the mouth with a slight chocolaty note towards the finish. Perhaps it is just trying a little too hard to impress? Maybe a shorter skin contact would have been better?Importer: Southern Starz, Huntington Beach, CA; tel. (714) 892-3030