A recent vertical tasting revealed not only the propensity for Mount Difficulty Pinot Noir to age effortlessly, but also the calibre of the 2012 as one of the finest yet. It’s easy to underestimate Mount Difficulty on release, particularly within the context of more immediate Central Otago pinots. Mount Difficulty, by comparison, is a wine of structural poise that calls for a decade to uncoil to show its best. Look carefully and you’ll see that 2012 already shows all the hallmarks of great Central Otago pinot noir in layers of persistent black cherry and black plum fruit, outstanding structure of firm, finely textured tannins and excellent balance. $43 at Discount Wines.