Rockburn Central Otago Chardonnay 2022 $32 Central Otago is one of the harshest environments to grow grapes. Inland, mountainous and with almost no humidity, very low organic matter in the soils, weather extremes like you wouldn’t believe and crazy people who insist on hurling themselves off bridges and out of helicopters and into half-pipes on … Read More
Central Otago
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $40 Winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis has selected fruit from their Parkburn and Gibbston Valley Back Road vineyards to star in this, one of New Zealands most consistent and reliably tasty pinot noirs. The nose of the 2022 shows classic cherry, black tea and raspberry jus notes on the nose and … Read More
Carrick Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Carrick Bannockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $44-$51 Now in its 26th vintage, this is one of New Zealand’s most respected pinot noirs. The 2020 erupts with classic Central Otago dark fruits and dried thyme aromatics, then follows through with attractively layered spice and charred oak notes. There’s some tannic cling and grip and it’s … Read More
Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021
Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2021 $33-$37 Paired with Lamb Meatballs in the NZ Herald CANVAS magazine Sat 8th April 2023 To me, it doesn’t matter if you get all Bubba from Forrest Gump on it (lamb roast, lamb chops, lamb racks, lamb burgers, lamb and rosemary sausages, lamb casserole, lamb rissoles, lamb steaks, lamb … Read More
Carrick The Magnetic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2020
Carrick The Magnetic Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2020 $65 Intensely juicy, gamey, spice-saturated and lifted, this buoyant beauty is crammed with cocoa notes blueberry, red cherry and rhubarb flavours in every cranny. With gently lithe, lovely tannins, if you’re looking for purity and a ‘sense of place’ in one sip, you’ve got it right here. According … Read More
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Blanc de Noir 2022
Te Kano Estate Central Otago Blanc de Noir 2022 $30 Te Kano’ is Māori for ‘seed,’ and their winemaking team have definitely planted something pretty thrilling onto my tastebuds. Crafted from 100% pinot noir from their two certified organic vineyards, (clay-based Eliza and sandy-soiled Jerome) carefully, gently, whole-bunch pressed to avoid too much of their … Read More
Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
Black Quail Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $55 Made by the scarily talented Jen Parr from an 8-ha block of fruit grown by the Keillor family in Bannockburn, this new release pinot bursts with whipcrack freshness and personality. Crammed with black cherry, blueberry, rhubarb and rooibos tea leaf tones, it’s a lush, deliciously structured thing … Read More
McArthur Ridge McArthur Grand Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020
McArthur Ridge McArthur Grand Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2020 $80 Clearly the stars were aligned and the gods were appeased above Alexandra in 2020 because viticulturist Murray Petrie was able to grow some very happy, satisfied grapes, fat with flavour that winemaker Matt Connell was able to wave his wizarding wand across and fashion … Read More
Weekend Wines Gone Rogue Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022
Weekend Wines Gone Rogue Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022 $36 Introducing a deliciously crisp, fresh pinot noir from the kids at the Central Otago Wine Company in Cromwell. Lifted and youthful and bright, it’s edged with early-season cherry, baked beetroot, blueberry and rhubarb flavours wrapped around a core of juicy acidity and earthy tannins. … 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