90 POINTS

"This is a beautifully elegant and refined pinot.  There is good bony structure and fine silky tannins supporting an effortlessly long palate profile.  Delicious supple sweet fruit of medium to light body with those tannins firm enough for support.  Excellent wine."

This is a beautiful, rather unique Pinot Noir that opened up so nicely that even my wife — who typically frowns upon Pinots — gave it a thumbs-up.

If your goal is to drink a wine that's from as far away as possible, this may be it. New Zealand's Central Otego Wine Region is at 45 degrees south latitude, making it the most southerly wine producing region in the world. Kinda cool. But, then again, who cares where it comes from if it doesn't taste good?

On this score, the Mud House Pinot comes up roses, with a very nice medium body, light garnet color, and a bright, fruity flavor. There's some cherry in here, some plum and spice — but this is not an overly complex wine. If you're more accustomed to Northwestern Pinots, this Kiwi cousin will be a welcome change of pace. A little brighter, more straightforward and very drinkable, the Mud House has medium tannins and would be an excellent accompaniment to a nice lamb dish.

Visit www.mudhouse.co.nz/wines for more information.

— Alex Miller, Summit Daily Editor

"This 2008 vintage of the Mud House Pinot Noir reminded me of red berries and strawberries on the nose. Great legs and weight with typical Marlborough flair in the glass, glossy and lively. Rich berry fruit with driven acidity on the attack, long finish with warming alcohol as it hits the gullet. We drank this with Galloway Rib eye Steak, served medium rare with wild garlic and herbs. It was a great combination and one that could normally cost a lot more money, but this Pinot Noir is exceptionally good value for Marlborough at well under a tenner!" Andrew Coghlan, MD

Michael Cooper - New Releases

3.5 STARS out of 5.  " Scented, supple, fruit-driven style, grown at Bendigo and partly barrel-aged.  Vibrant, cherryish and plummy, with fresh acidity and very good depth."

Michael Cooper - New Releases

3 STARS out of 5.  "Attractive, drink -young style, light ruby, with vibrant cherry and spice flavours.  Fruit driven style, fresh and supple."

3.5 Stars, TiZwine Review

"Soft and ripe and definitely ready to drink now. The nose shows smokey berry fruit whilst the palate exhibits cherries and other sweet fruits combined with soft tannins and well balanced acidity. Feminine and easy drinking."

3 Stars, TiZwine Review

"The nose displays herbal, forest floor aromas with a hint of eucalyptus. The palate has good fruit weight with flavours that will open out in time. The tannins are rounded and well integrated."

""It smells and tastes like pinot noir and very good pinot noir I found it hugely enjoyable. 92 points and a very good price" Tony Keys

http://www.ferment.com.au/the_key_review.php

"The Central Otago region in NZ, with its warm summers and cold winters produces intense and aromatic characters in its wines.  The Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007 is among three Kiwi wines from Mud House now available in Australia.  It's a pinot with vibrant fruit and spice on the palate, enhanced by well-integrated oak and balanced tannins. " By Ross Noble The Courier - Australia.

"Try the 2007 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir - a wine which is at the top of the tree.  This most delightful wine comes with inbuilt aromas of red fruits such as cherry, plum, and raspberry.  I could not go past a rack of lamb to accompany the gem from the shaky isles."  Grape Vine John Crook

The comparatively recent, emphatic arrival of Central Otago pinot noir on the world wine scene gives us such names as Felton Road, Chard Farm, Rockburn, Carrick, Mt Difficulty and Mount Edward. Their quality and fame also means a $50-plus price tag. But the recent arrival in Australia of Mud House gives us a decent pinot from the region at a modest (for pinot) price. Made in Marlborough from fruit grown in Central Otago’s Bendigo sub-region, Mud House offers ripe, well-defined pinot flavour supported by soft but assertive red-wine tannin. It doesn’t need cellaring and should be enjoyed over the next two or three years.

http://www.chrisshanahan.com/

87 POINTS - Light and crisp, with a red pepper edge to the earthy blackberry flavors, finishing with polish. Drink now through 2012. 15,000 cases made. –HS

One of three new releases, including a pinot gris and sauvignon blanc, launched in Australia by Marlborough based
operator Mud House. It's a classic Kiwi pinot with upfront cherry
and plum fruit flavours, integrated spicy and earthy characters, subtle oak and smooth tannins. Drink with roast quail.

Hot summers and cold winters seem to have done the right thing as far as the wines from New Zealand's central Otago are concerned. The seasons have created wonderfully intense and aromatic characters. Try the 2007 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir and you will have a wine which is at the top of the tree. This most delightful wine comes with inbuilt aromas of red fruits such as cherry, plum and raspberry. I could not go past a rack of lamb to accompany the gem from the shaky isles. Recommended retail price is $28.  John Crook "Grape Vine - Seasons Flavours"

Even though this is close to 30 bucks, this is still great value for a pinot from this stellar region. It has strength of character and a solid backbone or ripe cherry and molasses. Sexy tannins and a great palate length make this wine a delicious partner for Peking duck. Yum.
Quality: 4 stars
Value: 3.5 stars
 

The fruit was brought into the winery and gently de-stemmed, allowing whole berries to remain intact. After cold soaking, the ferment commenced with a combination of wild and cultured yeast in order to build an array of flavours and characters. Match it with braised chicken, cold duck, rabbit or charcauterie.

3.5 stars, TiZwine review

"Still young in colour, the aromas are smokey with bramble nuances. The palate displays sweet, almost strawberry, fruit with soft, warming tannins."

90 points

Spicy, meaty, peppery - this would almost pass as a Hawke's Bay syrah. That said, it's a good wine. It's got a fair amount of meaty, smoky oak and cherry-plummed fruit appeal, the most impressive thing being the finesse through the finish - and elongated tannin structure. It needs a little time to settle down but it's a decent, lively red.

5 Stars  - Best Buy

"Lifted earthy, mocha scents set the scene for a rich palate with a balanced sweet-savoury profile. Eminently suited to being served with antipasti or pizza."

Aromatic, bright sweet cherry and berry fruit note is quite startling in its purity and freshness, and has a herby lift I often find in Marlborough Pinot.  The palate is brightly fruited and cherryish, with some sweetness, but also a savoury, spicy twist.  Nicely elegant with delicious, vivid sort of personality.  This isn't meant to be Burgundy, but it has a light touch and is only 13.3% alcohol - low by New World standards.  (c. £12 retail, UK agent MMD)

Run, don't walk to snap up all the Mud House 2006 Pinot Noir you can lay your hands on. It is bursting with pure raspberry fruit and is a killer value.