A selection of Central Otago pinot noirs to delight

It was exciting to sit down to today’s selection of Central Otago Pinot Noir as I think that I can fairly say that vignerons have been delighted by the quality of the fruit over recent vintages, which is clearly reflected in the wines.

A bit of a shout out to Valli as well as they have just joined the 25-year club, holding a celebratory weekend of tastings and dinners over the last weekend of January.

Congratulations on the achievement and I look forward to following the wines in the future.

2022 Valli Gibbston Vineyard Pinot Noir  

 
Price RRP $85 
Rating Outstanding 
 
Alluring & beguiling 
nose, savoury 
qualities, earthy 
touches, red fruits, 
spice a wild herb 
undercurrent, 
perfume swelling, a 
little flint later. Ripely 
fruited, powerful yet 
not heavy, plum & 
cherry showing, fresh 
stalky touches on a 
silky, vibrant, 
beautifully balanced 
palate with a long, 
long finish. Complete, 
truly gorgeous, 
seduction in a glass. 
 
 

2020 McArthur Ridge McArthur Alexandra Pinot Noir  

 
Price RRP $79.99 
Rating Excellent  
 
Smoky notes, a sense 
of gravelly minerality, 
red fruits & fragrance 
building in the glass. A 
burst of raspberry leads 
the way, wisps of 
pencil lead and herb, 
this is more tautly 
structured with grainy 
tannins, hinting at what 
is to come. Youthful, 
fresh, the fruit builds on 
both nose & palate with 
aeration, adding a tingly 
aspect to the long 
close. More to come 
I’m sure. 
 
 

2021 Carrick Organic Bannockburn Pinot Noir  

 
Price RRP $51 
Rating Outstanding 
 
Almost brooding in a 
positive way, subtle 
schisty notes, plum 
& darker fruits bubble 
up, tar/licorice, herb 
flecks. Power and 
concentration with 
tannic structure to 
match, mouthfilling, 
ripe yet quite dry, 
black fruits. Again 
that brooding quality, 
there’s clear 
complexity, intensity 
and richness yet this 
speaks to its potential 
for the future. 
 
 

2022 Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir  

 
Price RRP $85 
Rating Excellent to Outstanding 
 
Fragrant lifted nose, 
becomes smoky & 
savoury, dried herbs, 
red fruits, graphite, 
anise, you can swirl 
the glass for an age. 
Vibrant in the mouth, 
bright acidity gives real 
energy, a bowl of ripe 
summer berries, lovely 
concentration. 
Revisiting this, the 
class is evident, a 
sense of coolness, 
growing minerality, 
super balance. Already 
delicious; should pair 
well with food. 
 
 

2022 Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir 

 
Price RRP $95 exclusive to cellar door & Kinross 
Rating Very Good to Excellent  
 
Immediately expressive, 
red fruits, blueberry & 
plum, iron filings, 
fragrance as it opens in 
the glass. Sweet fruit to 
the fore, wisps of charry 
oak, grainy & minerally 
with deceptive tannins. 
On the one hand great 
concentration and 
openness, on the other 
a backbone of structure 
for the future. With time 
savoury qualities and 
darker fruits grow, 
dense, open yet 
potential.  
 
 

2022 Valli Bendigo Vineyard Pinot Noir  

 
Price RRP $85 
Rating Excellent to Outstanding 
 
Immediate volume on 
the nose, darker 
fruits, savoury, sweet 
forest floor scents, 
riverstones, perfume 
building. A spice & 
savoury led palate, 
liveliness with lovely 
integration, surprising 
power a backstop to 
the wine. Ripe yet 
dry, it bounds from 
complexity and 
elegance to boldness, 
all this with a long, 
zesty close. One to 
luxuriate in.