Pinot comes in many guises
Pinot is more than one thing, as I was reminded last week when a friend asked what I'd like to drink when visiting a neighbourhood bar and then duly arrived back with a glass of Pinot Gris. I had wanted a 'Noir' and we swapped it out easily as another friend is a devotee of Gris.
Here are two new Pinots from the deep south of New Zealand and the world. Both wines are pretty widely available and very good+ in quality. Worth beating a path to, perhaps especially the 'Gris' because for a grape that is so often treated like a gateway, this wine shows what great Gris can be.
2026 SOHO Jagger Clutha Ridge Vineyard Pinot Gris RRP $32
Pinot Gris from the deep south has always had an edge and it shines through in this plush, lush and weighty example of great Gris. Complex fruit aromas sit in harmony with a smooth silkiness on the mid palate and lingering flavours on the finish. If you’re a Pinot Gris fan, you’ll adore this new wine from Soho – and from one of the coolest areas of Central Otago (cool in climate, that is – and in style).
18.5/20
2025 SOHO McQueen Central Otago Pinot Noir RRP $60
Smoky notes and lifted dark cherry and ripe wild berries intertwine in this new SOHO Pinot Noir from New Zealand’s most famous Pinot region, Central Otago. This is a wine that combines delicacy (red and dark fruit notes) with power (smooth firm tannins and a memorably long finish). It drinks well now but has definite ageing potential for those with willpower to do so. A keeper for at least six to seven years or decant and enjoy its vibrancy and lift in a large glass to sip and savour.
18/20
