Martinborough might be one of New Zealand's most compact wine regions, but it sure packs a punch with a plethora of great Pinot Noir coming off the famous terraces. This Pallier Pinot Noir threatens to be big and bold, too, with plenty of dark, malty richness. However, the core of spicy, super savoury cherry fruit is pretty lively and finished with sprightly tannins. This is a serious Pinot Noir, from a serious Pinot Noir maker that will even taste good in an unserious tumbler.

It must have taken a special sort of vision for the late Richard Riddiford to look at the dry sheep paddocks and stony soils of Martinborough and think, 'Yes, this is a great place for a vineyard!' But now, almost forty years on, Palliser is one of those names that feel like a part of the Martinborough (or Martinbro for the Kiwis) DNA. Famously, Palliser has a really tight focus on just a handful of wines - Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling & Pinot Gris. They also dip into a little bit of Marlborough wines too, just for colour and variety. Driven by a proudly sustainable bent - Palliser will be fully organic by 2025 and were certified Carbon Zero way back in 2009 - the wines here just seem to have an extra layer. More power, more intensity, more Kiwi.