New Zealand’s strength in fine wine is its consistency of quality, with purity and harmony setting a bottom line for quality that is a lot higher than many other countries. Pinot noir, one of the most essential and symbolic varieties here, plays centerstage and has bloomed in almost every wine region in this country over the last 20-30 years. And they sell for fantastic prices considering the quality. 

Today we look beyond the $15 kiwi sauvignon blancs we covered earlier (see those selections here), to explore the mid-priced red wines that retail around $20-$40 and deliver excellent value.

Only Chile, Germany, or South Africa occasionally offer better pinot deals than New Zealand. But they can’t quite provide the subtle diversity of styles – from Central Otago’s often fuller, spicier, more intense and tightly structured versions (Rippon and Felton Road, for example, are good references) to the supple and earthy Marlborough style with richly flavored and savory red fruit. Or there’s Martinborough’s deep and firm yet also ethereal and perfumed versions with more mineral tautness (like the celebrated Ata Rangi and Escarpment) or Waipara’s dark-fruit, complex, and well-rounded wines that are still very much under the radar (notable producers include Pegasus Bay and Greystone). All these styles delineate a panoramic view of pinot noir’s diversity in New Zealand today blessed with purity and focus while the producers keep the price friendly and down to earth.

See the following flight of 12 wines that retails for under $35. These bottles represent staggering value for pinot noir, as they were all scored with an outstanding 94 points or more.

Great value New Zealand pinot noir, for under $35

Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago 2017 – JS96
Available at KLWines.com: $29.99

Greywacke Pinot Noir Marlborough 2017 – JS95
Available at KLWines.com: $26.67

Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough 2016 – JS95
International Price: $30

Te Whare Ra Pinot Noir Marlborough 2017 – JS94
Available at KLWines.com: $29.99

Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Estate Single Vineyard 2017 – JS94
Available at KLWines.com: $29.99

Tongue In Groove Pinot Noir Canterbury Cabal Vineyard 2016 – JS94
Available at KLWines.com: $29.99

Paddy Borthwick Pinot Noir Martinborough Right Hand 2016 – JS94
US Price: $29

Greystone Pinot Noir Waipara Valley 2017- JS94
International Price: $27

Carrick Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn 2017 – JS94
International Price: $27

Black Estate Pinot Noir Waipara Valley Home 2017 – JS94
International Price: $28

Mt. Difficulty Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn 2017 – JS94
International Price: $29

Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago 2017 – JS94
International Price: $31

– Zekun Shuai, associate editor in Beijing