2024 Terra Sancta Jackson’s Block Pinot Noir

99 pts
An elite single-acreage Bannockburn Pinot Noir sourced from some of the oldest, own-rooted vines on Felton Road.

Price:
Sale price$70.00
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Sold out
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Description

Terra Sancta sits comfortably at the top tier of the Central Otago pecking order, turning out incredibly terroir-precise wines on Felton Road. Jackson's Block is a serious single-acreage parcel running entirely on own-rooted vines planted in the early nineties. These mature vines dig deep into loam, quartz and schisty gravels, pulling a rare sense of structural poise out of the Bannockburn dirt.

The 2024 growing season threw high winds across the region, but Terra Sancta’s sheltered blocks handled it with ease. They went completely natural in the cellar, using native yeasts and giving it 30 days on skins before pressing to French oak. The result completely skips over any fat, jammy Central Otago stereotypes to focus entirely on precision.

It is a beautifully focused, linear style of Pinot Noir. The nose serves up a brooding mix of black cherry, wild violet and iodine, while the palate is tightly corralled by racy, fine-grained tannins and a firm mineral spine. It has plenty of immediate charm if you give it some air, but it will comfortably cruise in the cellar for a decade.

99 points
"A linear and structured pinot noir with firm and racy tannins and aromas of spices, flint, iodine and oysters. The palate shows crushed berries and cherry blossoms. Needs time to open, but it’s superb already."
- James Suckling

99 points - "A linear and structured pinot noir with firm and racy tannins and aromas of spices, flint, iodine and oysters. The palate shows crushed berries and cherry blossoms. Needs time to open, but it’s superb already. From own-rooted 777 clone with a touch of Pommard planted in the 1990s and farmed organically. Better in a few years. Drink or hold." -
James Suckling

Tasting Note
The nose is deep and layered, with black cherry, crushed blackberry, and violet unfolding into flint and warm spice. Dark fruit intensity is interwoven with mineral tones and fine cedar.

On the palate, the wine is concentrated and linear, driven by black cherry and liquorice with a firm mineral spine. Fine-grained tannins give the wine structure, precision, and poise. Elegant and composed, it carries impressive depth and clarity through to a long, focused finish.

Vineyard
Location & Farming: Organically farmed using no-till, regenerative practices, Jackson’s Block runs parallel to Felton Road.

Soils: Classic lake-bed loam, quartz, and schist gravel soils—exemplifying the best of Bannockburn.

Vines: Planted in 1991 and 1995.

Clone: 90% of the block is planted to a single clone of Pinot Noir (Clone 777). Known for delivering expressive, perfumed wines, the 777 clone is ideally suited to schisty loam soils, delivering both power and elegance, while vine age results in excellent consistency and complexity.

Vintage
Favourable spring conditions led to a normal crop set. El Niño brought dry weather from mid-November to February, along with high winds across Central Otago; however, Terra Sancta's sheltered sites fared well. A January 24 frost caused no major damage.

A very dry summer was ended by rain on February 21, which, along with cool nights, supported steady ripening with harvest beginning on March 26. Despite the seasonal challenges, the mature vines produced high-quality fruit, reflected across the board in the vibrant flavour and complexity of Terra Sancta’s 2024 Pinot Noirs.

Vinification
Harvest: Organically certified, handpicked fruit in perfect condition.

Fermentation: Destemmed and fermented using 100% native yeasts.

Maturation: Pressed and racked to barrel after 30 days. Aged in 100% French oak (20% new).

Finishing: Made naturally with no additives, and neither fined nor filtered. Bottled at Terra Sancta with only minimal sulphur to ensure ageability and maximum terroir expression.

🍽️ Food Matching
Perfect alongside:

Dry-aged beef

Seared duck breast with a cherry reduction

Earthy porcini mushroom dishes

Price Bracket $51 to $100
Type Red
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Pinot Noir
Country New Zealand
Region Central Otago
Reviewed By James Suckling
Critic Score 99
Alcohol 13%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2024
Closure Screw Cap

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