Moko Hills Kakano Bendigo Chardonnay 2022 $40 Subtle use of oak has created purity and wholesomeness in this new chardonnay from Donald van der Westhuizen. There’s a soft, creamy, bruleeish aroma on the nose followed by masses of white peach, florals, grapefruit pith, soft spices and nutty notes. It’s got such beautiful balance it could … Read More
bendigo
Moko Hills Central Otago Chardonnay 2021
Moko Hills Central Otago Chardonnay 2021 $59 Donald van der Westhuizen has god-given grape-growing talent and it’s evident in this cleansing, crunchy-fresh, peach and pineapple-edged wine from the schisty slopes of Bendigo. Two chardonnay clones (UCD15 and B95) were gently whole-bunch pressed directly into French oak barrels and left to ferment naturally with the indigenous … Read More
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021
Folding Hill Bendigo Central Otago Chardonnay 2021 $32 I’m telling you right now, the vertigo-inducingly steep, sun-baked slopes of the zero-humidity sub-region of Bendigo is my new chardonnay spot to watch. While Tim Kerruish, his wife Nikki and their Folding Hill team are new to chardonnay, (their first vintage was the 2020) this second vintage … Read More
Valli Bendigo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021
Valli Bendigo Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $65-$75 A powerfully structured pinot noir comprised of a mix of Abel, 115, UCD 5, 667 and 777 clone fruit grown in the Chinaman’s Terrace where 65% of it was fermented hot (30°C) in 31% new French oak barrels, where it spent a quiet, sleepy 11.5 months maturing … Read More
Bendigo Hills Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021
Bendigo Hills Organic Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $29 Crafted using gentle, biodynamic principles, this handpicked pinot was grown on the sun-baked, North-facing slopes of Bendigo and given a calm ferment in 4-tonne oak cuve’s with a 3-week post-ferment soak on its skins before being gently pressed, aged for 10 months then gently bottled. Winemakers … Read More
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Folding Hill Orchard Block Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 It’s been a long time between Orchard Block pinots with the last one being back in 2017! The western boundary of this, (the most sheltered part of the vineyard), is an orchard of cider apple trees and the handpicked fruit is fermented in a small … Read More
Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021
Ballasalla Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $32 Crafted by the team at Folding Hill, this is the new release of one of my favourite Central Otago pinot’s. I’m loving the whoomph of potpourri aromatics in every sniff of this wine, exotic florals and smoked berries merge with softly spiky tannins, and red cherry and raspberry … Read More
Prophet’s Rock Central Otago Pinot Gris 2021
Prophet’s Rock Central Otago Pinot Gris 2021 $35 Winemaker Paul Pujol has once again created an absolutely stunning pinot gris from fruit grown in the ‘schist-happens’ clay and chalk soils of their Rocky Point and Home vineyard in Bendigo, on some of the steepest slopes in the region. Fermented using wild, indigenous yeasts and matured … Read More
Folding Hill Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Folding Hill Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $45 Just 300 cases were made of this unfined, unfiltered pinot noir and as soon as word gets out on how spice-stacked and characterful it is, I imagine they’ll be down to zero cases pretty quick. Vibrant, energetic and laced with tamarillo and dark cherry complexity on the … Read More
Valli Bendigo Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Valli Bendigo Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $75 With aromas that remind me of the lush, leafy, mossy scent of walking through native bush after it’s rained, this pinot is awash with forest floor earthiness, black tea, tamarillo and concentrated cherry characters. Bright, fleshy, energetic and stylishly crafted, it’s delicious in its youth and … Read More
12