Clifford Bay Marlborough Pinot Noir, 2009

The color of this New Zealand Pinot Noir is very light and even seems a bit watery at the rim--which should be a bad sign. Actually though, on the nose and palate the wine has good intensity and decent concentration. I smell pomegranate and cherry, as to be expected from Pinot Noir, but also a strong whiff of black pepper and spice. The latter seem more in line with Southern Rhone Grenache and add a nice touch to the reasonably long finish. It's the intensity that I like most; there is nothing plodding about this wine. I found it for $9.99 at World Market and consider it a good value.