McCashins 2007 Central Otago Pinot Noir product reviews

I have never been much of a red wine drinker... a bad experience early in my wine-life put me off and it has taken many years to overcome that prejudice. Wines like this do a lot to assist in that regard.

The official blurb on the label states that this wine "... has deep colour and a boquet of ripe dark fruits, these being both bramble and cherry in character and a hint of forest floor and licorice. The palate is full of ripe Cherry - both red and black cherries - and a subtle hint of spice. The taste is full and complex with soft, supple tannins and a long sweet fruit finish. The oak is balanced and compliments this fruit driven wine."

As something of a 'far-from-knowledgeable- wine drinker, this means pretty much nothing in language I understand.

So, my "layman's translation" goes like this... A nice smooth red, this has a smooth, tannin'esque after-taste that leaves the tongue feeling clean and dry... which sounds a little strange, but after a sip you'll understand. It has a rich, deep taste that reminds me of traditional Italian food on a summer evening, as it goes well with tomato and beef dishes, with plenty of herbs. (I confirmed this by having it with a freshly made spag bol, using a few dashes of this wine in the sauce, and a half-glass on the side to sip throughout. It just fit so well, it was a great match.)

There are definite hints of complex fruit tastes throughout, but berry is the leader and though I would be hard pressed to detect any 'cherry' I got definite hints of darker berries and some strong oak tang.

Overall, I think it's a very nice red wine, and when in the mood for it, this is certainly a worthwhile one of reach for. It is delightful when used in cooking. It bring a rich aroma and a traditional taste to any Italian style meal, either as an ingredient or as an accompaniment, and does wonders for any beef marinade. I wouldn't class it as a 'favourite' wine for me - since it's a red - but it certainly sits very high up my list of 'reds I am happy to drink when the mood strikes'.