Makipai Pinot Noir 2019 from Marlborough is a cool‑fruited, medium‑bodied Pinot, all redcurrant, dried cherry and fresh red berries with a subtle earthy, herbal edge that feels savoury and quietly serious rather than simple and sweet. There’s a nice line of fine, leafy tannin and bright acidity keeping this Makipai 2019 Pinot Noir feeling fresh, dry and food‑friendly.

On the table it’s tailor‑made for roast chook, duck breast, pork belly, mushroom risotto or a good old‑fashioned snags‑and‑onions barbecue, where that juicy red fruit and savoury twist really sing. It will also sit comfortably alongside charcuterie, semi‑hard cheeses and simple mid‑week pasta, especially with a light chill on warmer nights.

Makipai Pinot Noir 2019 is made in small volumes by a thoughtful Marlborough producer, delivering a quietly complex, aromatic style that offers proper Pinot character at a very fair price – a smart buy if you like your Kiwi Pinot on the fresher, more savoury side rather than big and jammy.