2022 Valli Vineyards Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir

96 pts
A concentrated yet finely balanced Bendigo Pinot from Valli – dark fruit, savoury spice and the firm, mineral edge that defines the subregion.

Price:
Sale price$89.00
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Sold out
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Description

Valli is one of the benchmarks for single-site Pinot in Central Otago, and their Bendigo release always shows the wilder, more muscular side of the region. The vineyard sits on steep north-facing slopes of schist and clay, where long days and cool nights build depth and fine, firm tannin.

The 2022 season was even and measured, producing fruit with great balance and purity. Winemaker Jen Parr kept the handling gentle – wild ferment, minimal extraction and ageing in French oak – to capture the site’s natural power without overworking it.

The wine has dark cherry, plum and spice on the nose, with earthy undertones and a savoury, mineral thread running through the palate. The tannins are present but refined, giving the wine shape and drive without heaviness. It’s unmistakably Bendigo – bold, structured and built to age, yet still showing the precision and polish that define Valli’s style.

96 points - "Such a seductive smelling wine. Dark cherry, wild strawberry and raspberry coulis tones with hints of pressed wildflowers, shiitake broth, wild thyme, amaro, spice, distant tobacco and Chinese barbecue shop and a sinuous, schisty undercurrent. The nose seems deeper and gruntier than its stablemates but the palate fans out and opens up with fine, powdery grip, plenty of umami and savoury facets and a bright, sapid line of acidity. A beautifully made wine of great restraint and elegance." - Dave Brookes (Halliday Wine Companion)

96 points - "Ripe, concentrated wine with cassis, blackberry, violet, dark chocolate and spicy oak underpinned with vibrant acidity. It's a wine with heft, obvious power and the ability to age gracefully." - Bob Campbell MW (The Real Review)

96 points - "A very structured pinot with blue fruit, flowers and slate with hints of graphite on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied but tight and hemmed in. Very precise and focused for a really big pinot, but comes off agile and energetic. This will age well. Beautiful follow up to the 2021. Drink or hold. Screw cap." - James Suckling (James Suckling)

95 points - "The 2022 Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir is lovely, every which way. The fruit is concentrated and supple, and it has liveliness and freshness from the acidity, but the tannins bring that forth in the mouth as well. This is a beautifully shaped wine, more curved and flowing than static or straight. A wine of substance, it is also a wine that has restraint and space. It's skillfully handled and super impressive. 14% alcohol, sealed under screw cap." - Erin Larkin (The Wine Advocate)

“Deep garnet hue with a seductive and slightly bashful nose of blackberry, dark cherry, plum, lily, sweet pea, rosemary, birch, and dark chocolate. The palate is tightly woven with layers of dark fruit and spice laced together by a fresh vein of acidity. The mouth-coating tannins give an inviting warmth to the wine, reminiscent of sitting by a campfire under a starlit sky. This exceptional vintage is generous yet restrained and has a tangy freshness derived from grapes grown at elevation. Captivating in its youth, this wine should develop beautifully for 20+ years.” Jen Parr - October 2024

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country New Zealand
Region Central Otago
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
The Real Review
The Wine Advocate
James Suckling
Critic Score 96
Alcohol 14%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2022
Closure Screw Cap

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