Pinot Noir, 2016. Momo

Momo is created by Michael Seresin of Seresin Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand. Michael was born in Wellington, but his earlier career had nothing to do with wine. He was a cinematographer by trade and became famous working with acts such as the Beatles and later worked on celebrated projects like Harry Potter's Prisoner of Azkaban.

He and his family travelled extensively for his work, but would always land back home in Marlborough. In the early '90s, New Zealand was making its mark in the world of wine and Michael became fascinated with that lifestyle. That's usually how it starts.

Before he knew it, he was building a winery and planting an organic and biodynamic vineyard. Biodynamic farming monitors every plant and organism in the vineyard to make sure that it is beneficial to the vines. No herbicides or pesticides are used. Beneficial plants that elminate the harmful insects are used, as are organic sprays to combat pests. There are literally no days when something doesn't have to be done. Biodynamic farming also monitors the gravitational pull of the moon to trigger certain vineyard procedures.

But as in all farming, it is all about the results. And the results here are spectacular. The grapes were hand harvested and piled on top of each other, so eventually the top grapes begin to crush the bottom ones. This is the most delicate way to make wine, and the slowest. But the results show an amazing amalgam of voluptuous fruit and fine tannins anointed with flecks of earth and spice that could sing with smoked duck or dance with veal Oscar.

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