Kim Crawford Pinot Noir South Island 2014: Ruby with purple hint color, translucent; ripe red berries, blackberry, licorice nose; dark cherry, blackberry, cranberry, fruity, soft tannin, reserved acidity (3.51 pH);
smooth, medium in the mouth with structure and balance. Easy drinker at nice price for this quality of pinot—no surprise, this is a Kim Crawford. Kim Crawford is part of Constellation Brands, the New York Finger Lakes winemakers who expanded to become the world’s largest makers of wine; to their enduring credit, Constellation typically does not screw things up after an acquisition. The brand began in 1996 when Kim and Erica Crawford turned a passionate dream into a world-recognized reality from a spare room in their home in Central Auckland. In two years, they were exporting to the United States. In four years, they had built a state-of-the-art winery in Marlborough. In six years, their sauv blanc made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List; they appeared again in 2005, 2006, 2008. KC’s various pinot noirs are now tracing the same path—well made, beautifully priced. This is labeled “South Island,” which indicates some of the grapes came from outside Marlborough Province, New Zealand’s pinot sweet spot; Marlborough, however, is on the northern end of the South Island, so this likely is a mix from different vineyards. Kim Crawford is the #1 New Zealand wine in the United States. They clearly are doing things right, as taste of this will attest. $17
Kim Crawford website
Second photo: Kim Crawford vineyard
