EAST COAST PALATE

Well, after a pretty long hiatus of no writing (except for my bimonthly City Living Magazine articles), I've had a realization that I cannot lose sight of the vision... the transformation of an amateur palate into a connoisseur... someday.
In the meantime I'm enjoying working as a wine professional, selling, sipping, spitting almost every day.  Always learning and always enjoying the fact that I work with a product that I love.  Why my words came to such a sudden halt, I don't know, but I hope to be back and as prolific as possible.
Okay, to what matters.  This bottle of New Zealand Pinot Noir will run you about 20 bucks.  Wild Rock is a sustainable winery affiliated with Craggy Range (one of the more prestigious establishments from New Zealand). It hails from the Central Otago region of the North Island (think Lord of the Rings), which has a cooler growing climate.  So you get a fresh Pinot with bright acid.  You get cherries, a resinous allure, and something slightly floral on the nose.  But no umami, i.e., no meaty deli meat aromas. 
The flavor is lush and fruity with a raisiny, spicy finish.  The tannins are light, and the wine is almost see-through clear.  Overall, it is a pleasant wine.  Good for stirfry, good chilled down just a bit to combat this summer humidity.  I give it a B+.
Question to anyone who might happen by:  Are you drinking more South African wine because of the World Cup?  if so, which ones?