I vexed over the 2006 Pinot Noir. Why? Because it is beautifully crafted in a style that is contradictory to what I believe Pinot Noir should be. A dense, super-ripe nose with plum jam and a touch of ripe, fresh figs, the full-bodied palate extremely ripe with raspberry jam, fig and even a hint of the local manuka honey! Yet, this is no faulty winemaking, the wine is not blowsy of cloying in any way, it is just intentionally fashioned in a very sweet, ripe style that I hazard a guess might leave you rapturous if you enjoy this particular take on Pinot Noir. It has a roguish charm! Dry River is one of the iconic New Zealand producers, its modern era commencing in 1979 when Neil and Dawn McCallum planted their first vines in the gravelly “Martinborough Terrace,” since augmented by Craighall and Lovatt vineyards. Though Dry River was sold in 2002, Neil continues as chief winemaker assisted by Katie Hammond and the focus is on late-picked, concentrated, long-term wines.Importer: RO Imports LLC, New York, NY; tel. (212) 916-3320; fax (212) 916-3306