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Winner Details

Pinot Noir: Rest of the New World


2015: Gold 2 Silver 17 Bronze 9 Commended 16
2014: Gold 5 Silver 9 Bronze 7 Commended 6


Expectations for Pinot in the New World aren’t so high once you get outside New Zealand, which is probably just as well. There were far fewer Gold-Listed wines here this year than in 2014.

Australia made a decent fist of things, but Chile (and stop me if you’ve heard this before) was somewhat disappointing. Plenty of positive noises in the early stages about value for money and so on, but just not quite enough to push the final-round tasters into nominating Golds – even for the cheaper versions.

Not much cheap from the US, and the lack of Golds here was arguably more of a surprise, given some of the quality available. And how about a few more entries from South Africa next year?

FOOTNOTE: Excludes Pinot Noir from New Zealand.

From the Tasting Teams


‘The Chilean Pinots are great value. A great introduction to what the mystery of Pinot is all about.’ Mirco Giannoccaro, Luton Hoo Hotel Golf & Spa

‘Oregon has never been cheap, but the wines can be immense value for the quality of winemaking. Oregon deserves people’s attention.’ Martin Lam, team leader

‘When you step up from entry level you hope for terroir, complexity and interesting characters, and again there wasn’t much of that on show [in the Australian flight].’ Christine Parkinson, Hakkasan Group

‘Leyda was an excellent flight. Very good wines and the prices were good for Pinot.’ Roger Jones, The Harrow at Little Bedwyn

‘South African Pinot is a work in progress, with the more established producers in Hemel-en-Aarde really showing through.’ Michael Harrison, consultant

‘The Australian wines showed pleasant varietal character at the lower level and got exciting when you got to mid-range and beyond. Overall some really good perfume, texture and seductive styles – as good Pinot should be.’ Athila Roos, The Arts Club

Award winners

Found 44 wines

New World: Pinot Noir, Rest of the New World

Lethbridge, Pinot Noir 2012, Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Gold medal winner

Serious but elegant, intensity and complexity took Lethbridge to the winners' circle. Athila Roos of The Arts Club admired the ‘classic, beautiful Pinot nose’ on this example, adding: ‘Fragrant red berries and petals, soft and inviting. Silky texture with extract and density, mineral undertones and a complex, layered finish.’ 'The palate is savoury and meaty, with texture and firm tannins,' said Vincent Pastorello of Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester, suggesting matches ranging from turbot with a red wine sauce to boeuf bourguignon.

£18.50 Berkmann Wine Cellars

Kooyong, Massale, Pinot Noir 2013, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Gold medal winner

Lovely, lush and long, Kooyong turned heads as it progressed to the Gold podium. ‘Opulent, silky and very long,’ began Hakkasan Group’s Christine Parkinson, continuing: ‘Balanced and full of black fruit with subtle herbal notes and very integrated oak. Pure, vivid and vibrant.’ 'A ripe, punchy, fleshy style; deep, honest and plummy with good balance,' said team leader Simon Woods, recommending rack of lamb or seared tuna.

£15.18 Enotria&Coe

Accolade Wines, Eileen Hardy, Pinot Noir 2012, Tasmania, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Seductive nose, showing a little development but packed with crushed, juicy berries and a whiff of dried petals,’ said Athila Roos of The Arts Club, with Andrea Domenicucci of Whatley Manor adding: ‘Nice cherry aroma with a little bit of peppercorn spice.’

£25.00 Matthew Clark

Josef Chromy, Pinot Noir 2012, Tasmania, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Elegant nose of strawberries and raspberries, vanilla and earthy, geranium floral notes,’ began an impressed Luigi Buonanno of Bianco43, continuing: ‘The palate is ripe and agile, with supple acidity and refined tannins, great length.’

£14.58 Bibendum

Z'IVO, Whole Cluster, Pinot Noir 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Silver medal winner

‘Maturity on the nose, savoury style at its best, pure and polished with fresh acidity and red fruit character,’ said Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower Restaurant of this elegant wine, with its dry palate and bitter chocolate finish. ‘Big, with lots of chewy flavour, this will continue to develop well,’ added Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

£30.00 Whirly Wine

Tolpuddle Vineyard, Pinot Noir 2013, Tasmania, Australia

Silver medal winner

'Plump, plush, floral and elegant, this has effortless allure, is long and refined, with plenty of grip and fruit, but also the "It" factor,' said team leader Simon Woods, with Athila Roos of The Arts Club adding: ‘Very intense, bold style, needs a year or two in bottle to settle.’

£31.00 Liberty Wines

Ten Minutes by Tractor, 10X Pinot Noir 2013, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Complex nose of red fruits, a touch of cocoa, cream, spicy black pepper and eucalyptus; very intense on the palate with moderate acidity and long length. Elegant and powerful on the finish,’ said Caroline Brangé of 28°-50° Mayfair.

'Dry, fresh and easy to drink. Match with pan-seared tuna,' said Julien Sahut of Wine Culture.

£18.50 Bancroft Wines

Trefethen, Pinot Noir 2012, Napa Valley, California, USA

Silver medal winner

‘Herby, spicy nose and nice round texture on the palate, with a fair amount of vanilla and oak spice,’ said consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet, with Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone adding: ‘Intense palate, bright and fruity with cracking acidity.’

£16.95 Dudley Craig Wines

Rathbone, Yering Station Village, Pinot Noir 2011, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

Silver medal winner

‘Elegant nose, palate driven by hints of spice and velvety tannins, well balanced,’ noted team leader Andrea Briccarello, with Athila Roos of The Arts Club adding: ‘Soft red berry and earthy nose, simple, soft and juicy with a hint of smoke and spice over a strawberry scented core.’

£8.91 Bibendum

MontGras, De Gras Reserva, Pinot Noir 2013, Central Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Forest floor aromas with a hint of spice underlying, concentrated and well balanced with mild tannins,’ said Mark Graham of Butlers Wharf Chop House, with team leader Jade Koch adding: ‘Bright, dancing fruit, very alive and moreish with sweet, ripe cranberry and strawberry.’

£6.65 Enotria&Coe

Sanford, Santa Rita Hills, Pinot Noir 2009, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

Silver medal winner

‘Spiced aromas with clean, deep fruit, followed by raspberry ripple ice cream character and a hint of truffle and forest floor,’ said Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, continuing: ‘Intensity of fruit is good, with a lingering mouthfeel of truffles.’

£29.50 Matthew Clark

Ventisquero, Grey, Single Block, Pinot Noir 2012, Leyda Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Savoury, forest floor aromas with red fruit backing, well-balanced palate and a good acidic lift,’ said Lukasz Walkowiak of Oxo Tower Restaurant. ‘Quite complex, rich and brooding, will develop,’ added Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

£9.50 Bibendum

Byron, Santa Barbara, Pinot Noir 2012, Santa Barbara County, California, USA

Silver medal winner

‘Delicate but complex nose of hazelnuts, dark fruits and some warm spices,’ began Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel, continuing: ‘Good, harmonious palate with some more bitter notes but smooth tannins and a long finish.’ ‘Delicious and easy to drink another glass,’ concluded team leader Annette Scarfe MW.

£10.90 Boutinot

Indómita, Duette, Pinot Noir 2014, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘Ripe, sweet fruit with oak, friendly, crowd-pleasing and good value,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, suggesting salads with fruits as potential food matches. Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone added: ‘Nice and quaffable, with wine gum, cherry and currant fruit, and medium weight.’

£8.13 Alliance Wine

Cono Sur, Organic Pinot Noir NV, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Richard Brooks of Caroline Catering found this to be ‘excellent value’, and said: ‘Very attractive red berry aromas following through on to the palate, with a variety of red fruit flavours, well balanced.’ Vittorio Gentile of Theo Randall at The InterContinental Hotel agreed, suggesting beefburger with cheese and bacon as the perfect match.

£4.90 CyT UK

Undurraga, TH, Terroir Hunter, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘A drink now wine,’ began team leader Martin Lam, continuing: ‘A more elegant style, with measured oak, good fruit and a refreshing character.’ ‘Bright pink and purple in the glass, showing its youth, this has green spice, forest fruits and dark plum notes,' said Sarah Riddle of Sketch.

£15.00 González Byass

Alto de Casablanca, Ritual, Pinot Noir 2014, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

‘A more serious style with French oak,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, continuing: ‘Slightly grainy oak tannins but bone dry and attractive in style. Partner with grilled meats or duck breast in cherry sauce.’ ‘Dark, racy fruit with earthy, savoury undertones and good texture,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£11.35 Alto de Casablanca

Bouchard Finlayson, Galpin Peak, Pinot Noir 2012, Walker Bay, South Africa

Silver medal winner

‘Fruit-focused lead with a dash of cherry and sweet spice, but not over-complicated,’ said Jonathan Kleeman of The Ritz Hotel, with team leader Simon Woods adding: ‘Grown-up, lovely, intense but silky plum and berry style.’

£15.31 Seckford Agencies

Valdivieso, Single Valley Lot, Pinot Noir 2012, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Silver medal winner

Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone rated this as ‘ace’, saying: ‘Nice, bright, crunchy fruit nose with sour cherry and strawberry, currants and spice notes on the palate with a nice, clean and balanced finish.’ ‘Delicate nose, but Pinot character comes out on a fresh and balanced palate,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£10.44 Bibendum

Hess, Select, Pinot Noir 2013, Central Coast, California, USA

Bronze medal winner

‘Perfumed, sweet-sour nose, and a rather delicate, finer style,’ said team leader Martin Lam, continuing: ‘Interesting wine, with very fine tannins on the finish.’ ‘Red fruits and forest floor with a touch of spiciness on the nose,’ added Oxo Tower Restaurant’s Lukasz Walkowiak.

£14.20 Liberty Wines

Z'IVO, Pinot Noir 2009, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Bronze medal winner

‘A bit of development on the nose brings very interesting savoury notes, with salty, meaty undertones and elegant fruit,’ said consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet. ‘Warm, baked fruit, rounded mouthfeel and tannin, delicious,’ added Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone.

£26.60 Whirly Wine

Bachelder, Johnson Vineyard, Oregon, Pinot Noir 2012, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Bronze medal winner

‘Elegant and delicious with good use of oak,’ began team leader Annette Scarfe MW, continuing: ‘Sophisticated and attractive, very complex with a lovely length.’ ‘Seductive nose, quite enticing, soft and finely textured palate,’ added consultant sommelier Christophe Richelet.

£29.60 Liberty Wines

Luis Felipe Edwards, Marea, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

Despite its ‘quite mature nose and colour’, Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn described this example as ‘a keeper, but has a lot to say’, adding: ‘Mushrooms and herbs, sweet and oaky, chewy oak.’

£14.00 Matthew Clark

Ventisquero, Kalfu, Sumpai, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Rich, deep flavours, savoury with good fruit and some leafier notes,’ began Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, continuing: ‘Complex and layered, well balanced on the palate with perfumed truffle notes, though needs decanting.’

£12.50

Deloach, Russian River Valley, Pinot Noir 2012, Sonoma County, California, USA

Bronze medal winner

Rated ‘very good’ by an impressed Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, who noted: ‘Clean, delicate, lively, bright, this is fresh and tangy, juicy and precise, with delicate berries and some savoury notes. Sits well.’

£14.30 Liberty Wines

Paracombe, Pinot Noir 2013, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Bronze medal winner

‘Very pretty, with dark cherry, raspberry and sandalwood aromas, and an intense and textured mouthfeel that is balanced by vibrant acidity,’ said Athila Roos of The Arts Club.

£17.87 Matthew Clark

Porta, Veranda, Pinot Noir 2013, Bío-Bío Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Richer style, complex, long in the mouth with some delicate spice notes,’ began James Hocking of The Vineyard Group, with Caroline Catering’s Richard Brooks adding: ‘Light but attractive fruit aromas, very easy, soft drinking.’

£8.60 Viña dos Andes

Vistamar, Sepia, Reserva, Pinot Noir 2013, Casablanca Valley, Chile

Bronze medal winner

‘Savoury, restrained style but exceptional value for money, and very suitable for by the glass,’ said team leader Annette Scarfe MW, with Mya Brown of Vinoteca Marylebone adding: ‘Baked fruit, black cherry and a little spice, and nice mineral, earthy character.’

£5.00 Bottle Green

Onannon, Gippsland Pinot Noir 2013, Victoria, Australia

Commended medal winner

£21.75 Boutinot

Onannon, Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2013, Victoria, Australia

Commended medal winner

£21.75 Boutinot

Tabalí, Reserva Especial, Pinot Noir 2013, Limarí Valley , Chile

Commended medal winner

£7.90 Boutinot

Innocent Bystander, Pinot Noir 2013, Yarra Valley, Victoria, Australia

Commended medal winner

£10.35 Liberty Wines

Alto de Casablanca, Veramonte, Pinot Noir 2013, Casablanca Valley , Chile

Commended medal winner

£9.35 Matthew Clark

Newton Johnson, Family Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2013, Walker Bay , South Africa

Commended medal winner

£17.15 Bibendum

Cartlidge & Browne, Pinot Noir 2013, North Coast, California, USA

Commended medal winner

£10.63 Alliance Wine

Heirloom Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2014, Adelaide Hills, South Australia, Australia

Commended medal winner

£12.00 Liberty Wines

Familia Schroeder, Alpataco, Pinot Noir 2014, Patagonia, Argentina

Commended medal winner

Leyda, Las Brisas, Pinot Noir 2012, Leyda Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£10.49 Enotria&Coe

Elk Cove, Pinot Noir 2012, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Commended medal winner

£17.93 Amathus

Viña dos Andes, Agustinos, Reserva, Pinot Noir 2014, Bío-Bío Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£6.62 Viña dos Andes

Undurraga, Sibaris, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£10.00 González Byass

Anakena, Enco, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£5.20 Bottle Green

Anakena, Ona, Pinot Noir 2013, Leyda Valley, Chile

Commended medal winner

£7.00 Bottle Green

Sebastiani, Pinot Noir 2013, Sonoma Coast, California, USA

Commended medal winner