Description
An eclectic collection of excellent New Zealand Pinot Noirs.
- 2021 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
- 2020 Schubert Block B Pinot Noir
- 2020 Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir
- 2021 Sato Bannockburn Pinot Noir
- 2022 Charteris Central Otago Pinot Noir
- 2022 Prophet's Rock Home Vineyard Pinot Noir
2021 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
Ata Rangi sits at the summit of Pinot Noir in New Zealand as one of the most revered wines in the country.
Ata Rangi’s 2021 Pinot Noir is a stunning example of why this small, family-owned vineyard in Martinborough has earned its place among the most revered Pinot Noir producers in New Zealand. Founded by Clive Paton in 1980 on what was once a stony sheep paddock, Ata Rangi has cultivated a reputation for producing powerful, cellar-worthy wines that reflect the unique character of the Martinborough Terrace.
The 2021 vintage, despite a challenging start with early frosts and cool weather, resulted in a Pinot Noir of remarkable concentration and elegance. Made exclusively from the oldest vines, this wine is a blend of the finest plots across six small vineyards, all within a stone's throw of the winery. It opens with an intoxicating nose of juniper, rose petal, and red plum, with underlying hints of cardamom and pink peppercorn. On the palate, the wine is both bright and supple, with finely woven tannins that carry the wine through to a long, poised finish.
This release is a perfect embodiment of Ata Rangi’s commitment to excellence, offering a complex and refined Pinot Noir that will only grow more intriguing with time in the cellar.
It's easily one of the finest examples of Pinot Noir to be found anywhere outside of Burgundy. It's a wine to be shared during special moments, with those you love.
99 Points
"This is impeccably composed and seductively expressed, showing dark cherry, clove, thyme, and cedar characters on the nose with a gorgeous floral overtone."
- Sam Kim (Wine Orbit)
97 Points
"It’s a wine for the long haul that draws out to an extended finish."
- Rebecca Gibb MW (Vinous)
97 Points
"Zesty and layered wine with beautiful balance and complexity. It’s already enjoyable now but will age gracefully."
- James Suckling
2020 Schubert Block B Pinot Noir
Kai Schubert's masterpiece is his Block B Pinot, a small production of Dijon clone Pinot Noir, aged in mostly new French oak for 18 months, and designed to age.
Four odd years from vintage and this is looking damn fine. It's still powerful and tense, with a velvety dark fruit core and some lingering, quality tannins.
Complexity is the key - there's earthiness and minerality, depth and subtlety. A truly excellent new world Pinot that would confound and delight the old world drinker.
95 points
"Intense wine with cassis, dark-fleshed plum, blackcurrant, chocolate/mocha and a suggestion of fresh herbs. Rich, warming pinot noir with a backbone of sweet, ripe tannins that suggest cellaring potential although the wine is deliciously drinkable now."
- Bob Campbell MW (The Real Review)
95 points
"Lots of juicy fruit with orange-peel, dried-strawberry and some dried-flower character. Medium to full body with polished, refined tannins that last a long time. Burgundian in nature."
- James Suckling
2020 Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir
The 'Rippon' Rippon Pinot Noir, as vigneron Nick Mills describes it, is the voice of his vineyard.
This is a blend of all of the old vine Pinot Noir material growing on Rippon. It's the wine that year in, year out delivers the clearest picture of what happened on this small patch of land during that growing year.
It's invariably a beautiful wine. Elegant and beautifully poised, this is usually a softer spoken style of Pinot Noir than the more rugged Tinker's Field.
Lovingly grown, expertly crafted, it's no wonder this is one of the more unique Pinot Noirs of the famous Central Otago region.
97 points
"Extremely perfumed with a pretty ripeness and clarity... Crunchy yet velvety and caressing in the mouth-feel from the lovely, open tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Best in a year or two, but right on."
- James Suckling
2021 Sato Bannockburn Pinot Noir
The Sato Bannockburn Pinot Noir hails from some of the oldest Pinot vines in the Central Otago region.
Organically farmed, this is a brighter, more fruit-forward counterpoint to the more savoury Northburn Pinot Noir.
Thios couple have the Midas touch when it comes to crafting Pinot Noir and with very little of it imported to Australia, we expect it won't be around for long.
2022 Charteris Central Otago Pinot Noir
This, PJ's 'village' Pinot Noir, comes from a vineyard high up on Felton Road in Central Otago.
The aim here is to craft something that is complex yet approachable in its youth.
PJ includes a little whole bunch which gives a gentle smokiness to what is lovely ripe and open fruit. It's a much more subtle and restrained style of Otago Pinot Noir and one that's immediately approachable.
Still, it shows plenty of power, plenty of fruit. It's a lovely example for the region which will only get better over the next 3-5 years.
2022 Prophet's Rock Home Vineyard Pinot Noir
The Home Block Pinot Noir burst onto the NZ wine scene when its first release, the 2005 vintage, was named in Bob Campbell's top 10 Pinot Noirs in Central Otago.
Since then it has been one of the most consistently highly rated Pinot Noirs in the region.
The Home Block Pinot vines yield intense fruit, winemaker Paul Pujol mustering all he has learnt from his time at noted Oregon producer Rex Hill and in Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, to harness the power of his site.
It's an Old-World-Meets-New-World style of Pinot Noir. Structured, savoury and a killer in the cellar
97 points
"A fantastic pinot with dried strawberries, orange peel, terra-cotta, and dried leaves. It’s full and very layered with creamy and fine tannins that go on for minutes. Plenty of depth and very long with tension and a beautifully creamy, velvety finish.”
- James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com)
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