10 Enigmatic New Zealand Pinot Noir Wines (Why They’re Special, Taste, Prices)

New Zealand has built an impressive reputation for Pinot Noir in just the last decade or so! (The first Pinot Noir bottle was released as recently as 1987.)

The fickle Burgundy grape has adapted perfectly to the country’s cool climate giving you an eclectic range of expressive, fruit-driven wines - some of them on par even with Burgundy reds. 

In this article, we’ll explore the best bottles to buy, what makes New Zealand Pinot Noir unique, how to serve these beautiful wines, and the best food to complement them.

10 Exceptional New Zealand Pinot Noir Wines to Buy in 2023

Here are our top picks of New Zealand Pinot Noir wines:

1. 2013 Kusuda Pinot Noir ($253)

Here we have an intense New Zealand Pinot Noir from a Martinborough winery characterized by raspberry, cherry, mushroom aromas and blackberry and mint notes. 

2. 2006 Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir ($191)

This New Zealand wine has a firm tannin mouthfeel and a vibrant nose of herbs, oak, and forest floor. The palate presents a mouthwatering strawberry, bright red fruit, and exotic spice flavour.

3. 2015 Prophet's Rock 'Cuvee Aux Antipodes' Pinot Noir ($163)

Here’s an elegant Central Otago Pinot Noir with low tannins, balanced acidity, and a black cherry and floral bouquet. The palate is a mesmerizing mix of rich flavours of dark fruit, dark chocolate, and vanilla. 

​​4. 2014 Felton Road Block 3 Pinot Noir ($156)

This is a dense ruby New Zealand wine with a silky texture, an addictive strawberry and wet earth aroma, firm tannins, and intense cranberry and raspberry flavors.

5. 2015 Bell Hill Pinot Noir ($154)

Here we have an incredible New Zealand Pinot Noir that presents fine tannins, an addictive nose of vanilla and spices, as well as a fruity palate of black cherry, plum, and blueberry.

6. 2011 Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir ($109)

This red wine has a silky texture, and an elegant cassis, cinnamon, and star anise aroma. The palate has licorice, bramble, and dark fruit notes.

7. 2013 Amisfield RKV - Rocky Knoll Vineyard Reserve Pinot Noir ($99)

Here’s a red wine with rich flavours of wild strawberry, raspberry, and cherry offset by exquisite ripe fruit aroma notes.

8. 2015 Prophet's Rock Retrospect Pinot Noir ($84)

This Pinot Noir has intense aromas of dark berries, exotic spice, and truffles. The balanced acidity and firm tannin levels are enhanced by a palate of plum, dark chocolate, and bright red fruit flavor.

9. 2015 Rippon Tinker's Field Mature Vine Pinot Noir ($69)

Here we have a savory Pinot Noir with silky tannins, licorice and bramble aromas, and ripe fruit, strawberry, and raspberry flavors.

10. 2017 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir ($63)

This New Zealand Pinot Noir from a Martinborough winery is suffused with dried cherry and spice aromas as well as blackberry and red berry notes. 

What Makes New Zealand Pinot Noir Unique?

Sauvignon Blanc maybe New Zealand’s flagship wine. But, the formidable standing achieved by Kiwi Pinot Noir winemakers in the last few years is impressive indeed. 

Although the country’s wine industry is one of the youngest in the world, you can find an eclectic Pinot Noir collection here, thanks to the quick advances in winemaking by the risk-taking producers.

Over the years, New Zealand Pinot Noir wines have evolved from fruity and aromatic to complex and structured. 

What sets them apart is the unique terroir in each region and innovative winemaking techniques each winemaker uses.

1. Climate and Terroir

The Pinot Noir vineyard plots are mainly distributed along the country’s cool southern regions:

• Wairarapa: The Pinot Noir vines from Wairarapa have low yields and produce grapes with ample acidity and enhanced sugar balance.  
• Marlborough: Marlborough, on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, has cool and dry conditions that favor the grape’s slow ripening and flavor concentration. The distinctive soil is made up of silty alluvium and loamy clay.
• Nelson: This wine region is located along the Tasman Bay shore on the South Island. Nelson’s Waimea Plains have a maritime climate with sunny summers. They are composed of free-draining stony soil that produces a savory Pinot Noir varietal.
• North Canterbury: The vines of North Canterbury are influenced by the hot, dry northwest winds, resulting in multi-layered complex Pinot Noir grapes.
• Central Otago: The region is the world’s highest and most southerly wine-growing territory with a continental climate. The best vineyards are in Gibbston valley. The hot summer and cool winter temperatures in Central Otago coupled with glacially-derived schist soil yield elegant Pinot Noir grape varietals.

2. Winemaking Techniques

The typical New Zealand winemaker aims to craft regional Pinot Noir wines at par with those from Burgundy (the wine’s birthplace.) Each winemaker incorporates some or all of these steps to enhance the wine quality. 

This includes:

• Reduced maceration periods
• Shorter punch-down schedules
• Fermentation of whole grape clusters
• Reduced use of new oak in barrel aging
• Natural wine aging in the cellars 

New Zealand Pinot Noir - Serving and Best Food Pairings 

Serve New Zealand Pinot Noir wine in a bell-shaped glass at 15 degrees Celsius to enjoy its flavors to the fullest.

It is a versatile wine that complements a range of foods, including pork, veal, venison, game, duck, chicken, and salmon.

New Zealand Pinot Noir: The Rising Star Among Elegant Reds!

New Zealand Pinot Noir is the new-age red that holds its own among other world-renowned Pinot Noir labels. 

Stock a bottle of this outstanding wine to surprise guests with an enigmatic tipple at your next dinner party.

If you’re looking to build a portfolio of fine wines like the New Zealand Pinot Noir or New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, check out the Vinovest website. Their wine investment platform helps you buy, store, and sell authentic labels from around the world.