Ninth Island, although often shrouded by ocean mists, is visible from our vineyards in northern Tasmania. The island name has been used for our range of fresh, early drinking style wines that capture the distinctive cool-climate flavours and nature of Tasmania. Brilliant and vibrant pinot noir, with subtle purple hue. Lifted aroma?s of dark cherries, sweet cranberries, the soft perfume of violets and wild flowers, with that distinctive Ninth Island berry fruits and raspberry richness, all finishing with a faint background of mocha chocolate and under tones of pepper berry spice. A beautiful bright lift of flavour on the palate, concentrated and long, with the characteristic hallmark of good pinot noir. At first the taste is supple round and delicate but soon bursts with richness and power as the delicious Pinot flavours fill your mouth, A wine that captures your palates attention. Sensual, velvety fine long textured mouth-feel. Sweet lifted and fleshy fruit on the mid-palate and that is a fine balance of satisfyingly integrated tannins and long captivating finish. Drink now to 2010.

Good colour hue and depth; fragrant and vibrant, with abundant red fruits and a touch of forest floor/sap to add interest. Screwcap. 13.5% alc. Rating 93 Drink 2014 $27.50 Date Tasted Feb 09 James Halliday Wine Companion 09

This was reviewed (positively) pre-release nearly six months ago for The Big Red Wine Book, and I reckon it looks just as good now. Bright raspberry and cherry fruit backed with particularly fetching pencilly cedar oak and a bit of funk. Light to medium bodied (with the emphasis on light), dry and fresh with appropriate tannic grip and decent length. Fresh and breezy but characterful too. Excellent value. Drink : 2009 - 2013 91 points Gary Walsh, The Wine Front

With a few exceptions the entry point for Australian pinot seems to be about $20.00. But that’s the nature of the beast that needs a cool climate and low yields to deliver flavour and structure. Ninth Island (part of Pipers Brook, owned by Belgium based Kreglinger) is a very good example of entry-level pinot, it seems light and fine at first sip, but there’s a depth to it that grows as you sip irresistibly to the end of the bottle. Chris Shanahan, The Canberra Times

Ninth Island was one of the first ‘value’ pinot noirs to shake up the Australian pinot market. It’s still doing the business. Oh, lots of character here! Full of lovely pencilly, earthy, peppery flavours on a core of bright, cherried fruit. You’d almost call it Euro-styled. It’s a pulpy (don’t mention the mill), generous wine with the enjoyment factor turned to high. There’s a bit of sex-on-a-forest-floor funkiness here – or, put it this way: it’s not a technocratic wine; it’s a wine that rocks and rolls. Drink: 2009–2012. Price $27.50; Seal - Screwcap; Score: 91 points The Big Red Wine Book; Campbell Mattinson & Gary Walsh.