Unofficial House Wine of TWS is Back with a Pinot!

New Zealand Pinot Noirs sit pretty in style right between what you would expect from a flashy Californian and a savory red Burgundy. Well-made examples with age, just like this beauty, drink like a dream. For 15 bucks and change, a Pinot that tastes like a Pinot, delicate yet flavorful with that classic knee-weakening fruit, is as rare as a spy that stays in love with another spy…

A delicate shade of deep garnet turns pale ruby on the glowing, wide circumference. The nose is redolent with raspberries, sweet cranberry, hints of cardamom and mace, and a distinct gaminess. Still youthful on the impressive palate and vivid with juicy cherries wrapped in a rich milk chocolate mouthfeel. Long on the finish, with a subtle lingering creaminess in rich bramble berry basket fruits, and spice. Roast a whole free-range chicken with a mélange of winter root vegetables and sage.

Wine Spectator was the first publication to discover Spy Valley declaring that “the secret is out”, continuing the story with; “Bryan Johnson, a wealthy Wellington stockbroker, got into the wine business almost by accident, and his first experiences flirted with disaster. But persistence and talent have turned his Spy Valley winery into an unlikely success. He got off to a bad start. In 1992 Johnson planted the entire 200 acres, but an outbreak of phylloxera forced him to replant the vineyard almost immediately. This time he opted for the slower, more expensive method of using vine cuttings grafted onto phylloxera-resistant rootstock. In 2000, a small percentage of the grape crop was used to make five wines: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer and they named the new winery Spy Valley, the nickname for the Waihopai Valley, an offshoot of Marlborough’s large Wairau Valley. Two large white spheres dominate the landscape. They are part of the New Zealand government’s Waihopai satellite communications monitoring base. The hard work and commitment are paying off. Now the winery is struggling to keep up with the demand for wines that have consistently exceeded expectations.”

With 50% savings on this delicious library vintage stock that just landed, this is the ideal Pinot to sip by a fire this winter!

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

90 Points – Wine Enthusiast - “ This is a medium- to full-bodied wine… It’s boldly flavored, with black cherry and beet notes up front, while subtle mocha and vanilla shadings emerge on the finish. Drink now.”