An earthy edge together with graphite and baking spices here as well as dark cherries and redder fruits: It's all nicely layered on the nose. The palate has smooth, lightly textured but richly flavored fruit in the form of spiced cherries and plums. Plenty of depth offered by this great pinot. Drink now to 2025.

Detailed, with notes of dried lavender, white pepper, fresh loamy earth and black tea set against a core of strawberry and raspberry flavors. Smooth and plush, this becomes even more expressive on the finish, where spice details fan out. Drink now through 2025. 750 cases imported. –MW

Editors' Choice. Making top-flight Marlborough Pinot Noir wasn't easy in 2014, so this is an especially notable effort from Kevin Judd. Classic savory, forest-floor notes frame black-tea and plum flavors in this concentrated, richly textured wine. Drink now–2022.

Translucent garnet. The nose is an inviting mix of blackberry pie, vanilla and a touch of cola. The palate confirms the nose with the addition of cinnamon and some spice. Add a bit of hot, dry stone, and a silky mouthfeel and you have a very nice pinot noir! With some air this rounds out nicely and is a very good value, though I would not immediately identify this as a New Zealand Pinot Noir. Drink 2018-2022.

Medium ruby colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir exudes lovely floral notes of roses and lavender with a core of cranberries and red currants, plus hints of Provence herbs and fragrant earth. Light to medium-bodied, soft, elegant and filled with earthy/perfumed flavor layers, it delivers great expression and poise. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown