A few years back I went through a major Pinot stage.
In recent weeks I've opened the last of my '08s. Here's the evidence:
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A few others that I didn't keep the bottles for:
Bass Philip Premium. I don't know what the rave is about Bass Philip. For me their Pinots have consistently been underwhelming.
Ata Rangi. Up there in the NZ cluster.
Craggy Range Te Muna Rd. Ditto.
Gibbston Valley Reserve. Ditto.
The verdict?
Well, NZ wins hands-down across the board. The Australians (all light-bodied), while not bad, had faded and mostly lost their true Pinot character (particularly and maybe surprisingly the Main Ridge Half Acre).
Conclusion? Simple: Australian Pinots just don't rate for aging potential against the NZ offerings. Drink 'em young peeps!