Mora Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $50 
Mora Wines is the latest wine venture for the Skeggs Group, which also produces the RUA brand – and the name ‘Mora’ means to linger or to take pause in Latin (which is a nice thought when you’re stopping to sip something lovely) Crafted from fruit grown in two vineyards in Bannockburn, (Felton Terraces and Cairnmuir) it’s hand-harvested, destemmed into stainless steel vats and put through a combo of one-third wild fermentation, two-thirds inoculated. A 27 – 32 day stretch on skins brings some deliciously chewy extraction and 10 months of sleepy time in barrel (20% new French oak) builds roundness and savoury complexity before blending and bottling. Attractive dried thyme and cocoa characters merge with wild cherry and hints of rhubarb, refreshing textures speak to its youthfulness, and it has a long, soothing finish which I really like.
