Wine Reviews

Jane Skilton MW. The Wine Kingdom Magazine March 2006

Alana Estate Pinot Noir 2003

Top 25 NZ Pinot Noirs – Alana Estate Pinot Noir 2003

"The estate wines just get better with each vintage. Although still not as well known as some of the more celebrated Martinborough wineries, this is certainly one to watch. The 1990s wines are already collectors items, and Alana Estate has begun buying back some of these wines at over twice the original selling price in order to have them available in the future at the cellar door for eager fans. The Alana Estate Pinot Noir (2003) shows strawberry / raspberry fruits and sensitive handling of oak, very Top 25 NZ Pinot Noirs – Alana Estate Pinot Noir 2003

Alastair Dunlop - Air New Zealand Mar 2005

Alana Estate Chardonnay 2002

Congratulations on your success at the recent Air New Zealand Inflight Wine Tasting/Selection. We look forward to showcasing this great wine in Business Class on board our long haul services.

Michael Franz - Washington Post, February 2005

Alana Estate Pinot Noir 2002

Surely among the best Pinots available at this price, it is still young enough to show primary fruit notes of cherries and strawberries, but also mature enough to include interesting notes that suggest wild mushrooms and damp earth.

Michael Broadbent – Decanter Magazine, April 2001

“The reds certainly seemed better value, indeed not unreasonable when one realizes what some of the top New World Pinot Noirs are fetching, for example, one of them (exactly half the price of the Volnay Taillepieds), a 1999 from New Zealand’s Alana Estate, was selected to represent its grape variety at the Introductory Session of Christie’s Course that same evening: delicious, soft, gentle, a distinctive varietal aroma and remarkably attractive flavour.”

Jonathan Ray – UK Daily Telegraph, February 2004

Alana Estate 2001 Pinot Noir Martinborough

"This is high-quality stuff bursting with ripe cherry flavours. Hints of chocolate, cinnamon and cloves are supported by smoky oak and silky tannins. Surprise yourself and try it with seared tuna steaks or pan-fried salmon or, more conventionally, roast duck.”

JAL Inflight Magazine, March 2004

“New Zealand Pinot Noir has come a long way in the past two decades... The tiny region of Martinborough leads the way in terms of international recognition. Martinborough earns glowing accolades for its outstanding Pinots, which typically feature strong flavours and great concentration. Alana Estate is a fine example. Sited on the famed Martinborough Terrace, Alana Estate has a Pinot that brims with aromas of black plum, black cherry, violets and smoke, wrapped around a velvety palate of dusky black plum.”

Air New Zealand – 2003

Alana Estate's 2002 Sauvignon Blanc was selected for use on the business class routes of Air New Zealand.

Fortnum Mason – 2003

Alana Estate 2001 Pinot Noir and 2002 Sauvignon Blanc were selected by Fortnum Mason as their house wines. This was a first time a New World wine has been selected for this honour by this world renowned and prestigious company.

First Glass, May 2004

“Alana Estate Pinot Noir 2001 – Deep and attractive fragrance, velvety textured, plummy blue fruit, some cherry and tamarillo, earth savoury tones, long sweet-fruited finish, still evolving. Lots going on. My favourite of the flight.”

Cuisine Magazine, July 2004

“Alana Estate Chardonnay 2002 – Top Ten NZ Chardonnays – Gold 4 1/2 stars Fleshy, finely balanced wine. Rich and lively, generous and supple, with satisfying body, well-ripened, citrusy fruit characters showing good concentration, subtle oak and good acid balance. A skilfully made wine, worth discovering.”

Decanter Magazine - July 2004

2001 Alana Estate Pinot Noir, 7th out of 102 New Zealand Pinot Noirs Tasted, Highly recommended. “Warm plummy-jammy nose,ripe cherry and raspberry notes.Ripe, concentrated fruit,opulent style, elegant. Oak well integrated."