"Juicy and appealing pinot noir with cassis, plum and dark cherry flavours. A succulent wine with a smooth texture for extra drinkability. Offers good value at this price. A real ‘crowd pleaser’" Bob Campbell, Real Review, Dec 2017

"Wonderfully fruited and brightly expressed, the fabulous bouquet shows dark cherry, plum, vanilla and toasted almond characters with a subtle floral lift. The palate is succulent and charming, delivering excellent mid palate weight and juicy fruit intensity, elegantly framed by silky tannins. At its best: now to 2019" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Dec 2017

"Dark ruby-red colour with youthful purple hues and some depth, a little lighter on the edge.  The nose is elegantly concentrated with firm and finely bound aromas of dark-red berry and raspberry fruit entwined with dark herbs, unveiling a little minerally reduction,  Medium-full bodied, the palate has bright and vibrant dark-red berry and raspberry fruit subtly lifted whole berry fermentation confectionary nuances, dark-red florals, herbs and a touch of minerally reduction.  The fruit forms a round, juicy and smooth core and the wine flows positively with good line and supple tannin extraction, lending good presence.  The wine carries to a long, rich-fruited finish.  This is a bright and vibrant, aromatic-fruited Pinot Noir with dark-red berry and raspberry fruit, subtle confectionary notes, on a supple palate with good presence.  Match with antipasto, pasta, tapas and poultry over the next 3+ years.  Central Otago fruit, clones 5, 6, 115, 667 and 777, destemmed and indigenous yeast fermented to 14.0% alc., the wine aged in tank and barrel" Raymond Chan, Dec 2017

This is a fruit forward wine where primary fruit aromatics with soft tannins create a supple, generous, early drinking style. Opulent black Damson plums and berry fruit lead to a palate that displays juicy red fruit with velvety tannins and a soft profile to complement.

Lake Hayes wines reflect the land they’re grown on, with a style of winemaking that allows the fruit to express itself from vintage to vintage. Lake Hayes wines are made in an early drinking style with a fresh, fruity appeal. They are young and lively, yet balanced and sophisticated.

Prior to harvest, 2016 was looking to be one of the driest vintages on record, but unstable weather during harvest brought challenging frosts and intermittent rain events, followed by damp warm conditions. The overall mean temperature for the 2015 and 2016 season was 0.9C above average.

Destemmed and cold soaked at 10ºC for five days. Fermented naturally with a top temperature of 32ºC. The wine was pressed off the grape skins when the tannins were deemed in balance. Residual Sugar: <1g/L

Food Pairing: Perfectly pairing with beef tartar served with cured yolk and smoked oyster cream