Planning

The Planner is in the middle of a project.  It’s an involved one that goes beyond his area of expertise, but is in the realm that SWMBO and I dabble in, so it was a plan to get together to discuss some finer points.  At the local Asian eatery, many of these points were covered, with a couple of bottles of wine accompany the meal of course.  But it’ll be an on-going project, and I’d imagine a good number more meetings will be required, with the bottles as well.  Sounds like a plan!

Two Pinot Noirs from Martinborough stood out.  The 2009 Escarpment Pinot Noir seemed surprisingly light at first.  But in the glass, it grew to become fully-fledged.  Lovely red fruits, and a little whole bunch savoury-herby perfume quite noticeable.  Lovely and sweet in fruit, with very fine and supple tannins.  The structure certainly there, but all very harmonious.  On first sip, I thought I was going to be disappointed, but this just get better and better.  It was hard not to finish the bottle quickly!  This was an excellent year for the Martinborough region, maybe the wines a tad lighter and full of potential than 2006 or 2008 which are seen as among the top vintages, but it’s not far behind, and it shows.  I think the ‘Kupe’ structured style might have been a little moderated by the year.

Matching it was a 2007 Martinborough Vineyard Pinot Noir.  This was a frost-affected crop and as a result a tiny, tiny vintage.  However, the intensity and the quality quite startling.  I think the 2007s have matured more gracefully than the 2005s, which are another low yield year.  The 2007s have retained riper flavours and freshness of fruit, whereas the 2005s seem to show their greener personality now as the develop their secondary flavours.  So the case with the Martinborough Vineyard.  Lovely sweet and vibrant fruit full of vitality, the tannins and acids in balance.  But as the wine saw air, distinctive toasty oak appeared.  A little too much in the end.  But it too was just delicious.

The plan about planning is a good one.