On the Friday of a long weekend, what better than an entirely drinkable Central Otago for an entirely impressive $14.99 a bottle? Something that proudly fits into the ‘inexpensive wines that aren’t shit’ category?

This Kaiora Bay Reserve Pinot Noir 2019 is another from the stash of Aldi samples that lobbed up at the post office recently, and it’s a winner (just like these two).

The appeal here is that it has all the high-toned Otago red fruits, a little tomato leaf, mushroom Pinosity and finely drying tannins you’d expect from the region, but it’s $14.99 rather than $29.99. It’s leanish, tending under-powered and the tannins are a bit drying. But for authenticity and flavour this is great stuff for very few dollaroonies.

Best drinking: now. 17.5/20, 91/100. $14.99. Would I buy it? Sure would.