All Carrick’s Pinot Noir fruit destined for the Carrick Estate labels was declassified in 2008 into this 2008 Crown & Cross Pinot Noir label. This high-yielding vintage has produced a pleasant, pale ruby Pinot with pretty red cherry and red currant aromas plus a little tree moss. Crisp in the mouth with a light bite of chewy tannins, this wine has decent weight and concentration with a medium-long, berry-fruited finish. Drink it now through 2013. In the heart of Central Otago’s Bannockburn, Steve Green’s vineyards at Carrick may be teenagers, but are already beginning to provide a peek at just what they can produce. There are 22 hectare’s devoted to vines with the plantings taking place in 1994, 1996 and 1997. Jane Docherty has been the winemaker since 2008, taking over from Steve Davies.Owner Steve Green was in the process of negotiating with a new USA importer when I met with him.