Pinot Noir, Kusuda Wines 2023

This was a light and fresh vintage in Martinborough, with plenty of aromas of green-top strawberries and citrus leaves, a medium to light body and fresh acidity. Sweet fruit flavors with hints of softness at the center. Lovely texture. Complex, subtle and graceful. Pristine for the vintage. Drink now.

The 2023 Pinot Noir is incredibly light in the glass, and it aromatically leads with a delicate display of red fruits, baking spices, cranberry and strawberry. The tannins in the mouth are twiggy and fine, and despite the very light weight, the length of flavor is good. 2023 will likely always be remembered in New Zealand for Cyclone Gabrielle, which wrought widespread damage upon much of the North Island, including significant rainfall. As a result, wines like this really are a testament to the perseverance and determination of producers. 12% alcohol, sealed under natural cork.

Very pale ruby. I'm quite surprised by how little purple tinge there is in this young wine! But it certainly smells of intriguing earthy Pinot! Really pretty and beautifully balanced. No surprise that it's made by a Japanese. Great precision! No excess sweetness but this was clearly not the ripest vintage. Ah yes, this was the Cyclone Gabrielle year! Delicate, would be the way to describe this wine. It was probably a nightmare to harvest. Still a little chew on the end. And some persistence. A precious jewel? It tastes as though it should be cupped in both hands, tremulously. Full marks for effort, which is how I have scored it. Drink: 2025-2033

Pale, brick red. Energetic bright red fruits, touches of orange peel, red bitters and dried herbs. Definitely a lighter-framed style of pinot noir but it is deceptively intense for whilst there seems to be only moderate concentration, there is excellent persistence. Oak influence almost negligible. Will this age? Maybe with time additional complexity will emerge but it is such a pretty wine right now. Alcohol 12.00%. Drink from 2026-2033.