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Daily Telegraph (UK) Jonathan Ray 19th February 2010
Top Ten Kiwi Wines.
Martinborough and Central Otago are generally thought to be the best places for pinot noir in New Zealand, but there are some crackers coming out of Marlborough, too. This is wonderfully intense and concentrated, with hints of chocolate, pepper and spice. It's a great price and best enjoyed with a rich meaty casserole or stew.
www.thewinegang.com The Wine Gang 15th August 2009
07 Vintage Widow Pinot Noir
Black fruit wafts up out of the glass and the palate is bursting with a balance of zip and fullness. There's a spicy almost smoky pungent touch that reminded us of Jackson Estate's Sauvignon Blanc and superbly judged oak that pins down the concentration nicely. It's powerful Pinot but it works. In five years time, it will blossom. Tasty. Score: 92/100 One of this month's Bunch of Five Wines to lay down.
www.winecompanion.com.au James Halliday 26th September 2009
Bright and clear colour; New Zealand pinot at its fragrant, seductive best, joyously pure, with come-hither red fruits running through to a bell-clear finish. Drink it now, tomorrow or in five-plus years. 95 points.
Sydney Morning Herald Huon Hooke 25th August 2009
A vintage widow is a winemaker's wife (or husband) neglected during the frenetic harvest time of year. The wine is a most impressive Marlborough pinot in a generous, almost opulent yet structured style. Good depth of colour; bright, sweetly ripe red and black cherry pinot aromas, quite complex but fruit-driven. Concentrated palate flavour, persistent and finely balanced. Plenty of fine tannins adding to structure and lengthy. It's youthful and just starting to evolve complexity, promising more over the next year or two. Terrific value, considering the lofty prices of so many of its countrymen. 95/100.
The Times (UK) Jane MacQuitty 18th July 2009
Almost every Jackson has popped up here and now it’s the turn of this stylish pinot noir, named in honour of the families of Jackson workers who are “widowed” during the long weeks of vintage work. Marlborough is not the best site for kiwi pinot noir. But there is so much mouthwatering rich, sweet, oaky, plumy fruit here, how could you resist?
Yorkshire Post (UK) Christine Austin 2nd May 2009
I am also a fan of anything from the Jackson Estate in Marlborough. The wines are showing increasing depth and flavour. For a real treat try “Vintage Widow” Pinot Noir 2007, for classic ripe red cherry fruit and soft spiced earthy flavours. NZ has stopped trying to imitate Burgundy and has now developed its own style which is denser, spicier and a lot cheaper. Try it.
Decanter decanter.com May 2009
Top 10 wines from Majestic. Finely balanced and expressive, this is laden with spicy, curranty fruit while possessing a darker, savoury underbelly that gives a bit of grip. Crisp and graceful, if a little young, there's a smattering of violets that brighten up the palate.
Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to NZ Wines Michael Cooper 2009
4.5 Stars. Dark and beautifully floral, it has concentrated plum and spice flavours, finely integrated oak, supple tannins and lovely warmth and roundness. Delicious from the start.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine J.C. March 2009
91 Points. Shows unusual intensity for a Marlborough Pinot Noir, revealing powerful cherry fruit, slightly herbal underpinnings and a subtle frame of spice and vanilla shadings. The structure is firm without being hard, the tannins soft and welcoming. Drink now to 2015.
Western Mail Neil Cammies 24th January 2009
The Vintage Widow Pinot Noir had subtle flavours of plum and cherry with balanced tannins.
The Press (Christchurch) Brian Prebble 8th January 2009
Winemaker Mike Paterson has produced a truly luscious Marlborough Pinot Noir. It has the colour of an Olympiad rose, a come hither berry aroma, a velvet blackcurrant taste and a long plum finish. Simply superb with steak. Delightful on its own.
www.matthewjukes .com Matthew Jukes January 2009
60 Best New Zealand Wines 2009. Launched at the annual New Zealand Tasting at Lords Cricket Ground in London, this is the culmination of a year of tasting New Zealand wines.
Cuisine Magazine November 2008
5 stars. An upper-middleweight with a racy, acidic jab and a powerful, dark cherry uppercut. Vibrant and juicy, more graceful Hearns than powerful Hagler, it goes the distance.
www.mindfood.com Joelle Thompson 16th September 2008
It’s always tricky opening such a young pinot noir as this. Will the wine be too feisty and acidic due to its youth and relatively cool climate origins? Has it settled in the bottle yet? Or will it taste smooth, plummy and deliciously good to drink? In this wine’s case, it’s the latter. This is sensationally soft Marlborough pinot noir. Pricey? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
Bob Campbell MW Bob Campbell MW September 2008
Intense Pinot Noir with strong dark cherry, plum and cassis flavours. Sweet fruit is perfectly balanced by subtle tannins to give a pleasantly drying (and lengthy) finish. Very attractive Pinot Noir that is very approachable now but should cellar well at least in the medium term. 92 points.
Hawke's Bay Today Yvonne Lorkin September 2008
Quince paste, spicy ploughman’s chutney combined with earthy bitter chocolate and cherry aromas it is complex and seductive. A little like the Dita von Teese of pinot, dancing on the tastebuds a la burlesque-style to reveal layers of savoury spicy flavour. A solid backbone means it’s built to last but won’t disappoint if you drink now.
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