Muddy Water 2009 Hare's Breath Pinot Noir - Review
Waipara, New Zealand
Our Selection for Wine of the Week May 21, 2012
Muddy Water 2009 Hare's Breath Pinot Noir Waipara, New Zealand
Muddy Water is a small, organic estate in Waipara, a region on New Zealand's South
Island known for Riesling and Pinot Noir. It was started as a family-run operation but
was recently sold to neighboring vineyard Greystone Wines. Greystone plans to continue
Muddy Water's tradition as an environmentally friendly, boutique winery, including
upholding the winery's commitment to the Greening Waipara initiative to enhance the
region's biodiversity. Hare's Breath is Muddy Water's single vineyard Pinot Noir. It
offers ripe cherry, stewed plums and violets on the nose. On the palate, its fruit flavors
lean toward cherry pie and black plums. Near the back of the palate, interesting anise
and baking spice notes add complexity. Its tannins are surprisingly substantial but should
smooth out with a bit of age. Reasonably big bodied for a Pinot Noir, it would work well
with roasted game birds like pheasant or squab. This distinctly New World wine would
also be a match for hearty sea bass with a mushroom sauce. Or serve it at the end of a
meal with hard, well-aged cheeses.