Central Otago's toothsome 2007s

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It was a pleasure to taste most of the 2007 Pinot Noirs made in Central Otago (over 60 from a total of just over 90), and interesting to make a comparison with my impressions when I concentrated on the 2003s on my last visit. The wines do seem overall to be drier (as in less sweet) and more complex, and a little more restrained, although 2007 was a particularly fine vintage – the result of a particularly cool summer, and perhaps the smallish, frost-shrunk crop naturally imbued the wines with good concentration of flavour thanks to the tiny berries.

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