17 December 2001

Spring and Summer 2001 - 2002

The season got off to a great start with an early spring and some very warm weather. This has put Gibbston about two weeks ahead of schedule and Alexandra about a week ahead of itself. However, some rain at flowering at the end of Spring may mean a fairly small fruit set. We shall see. In the meantime, all looks good and there has been much throwing of caps into air by all us peasants.

Planting at Redbank proceeds apace. Steve and Jim will have planted 12,000 Pinot plants by Christmas. These are on root stock and are all Burgundian clones -- 667, 777 and 115. Most of the planting is on a north facing sun drenched hillside with a variety of soils including some red and yellow clays which we think may contribute to the excellence of our esteemed colleagues' Pinot at Felton Road.

From all of us at Two Paddocks, we wish you all Happy Christmas and New Year and let's hope there are lashings of Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir in your stocking.

17 December 2001

Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration

Queenstown, February 1 - 2, 2002

Two Paddocks has been chosen to represent the 1999 Vintage for Gibbston at the biennial Pinot Noir Celebration in Queenstown. A jury of our peers (wine makers and producers organising the event) have judged 1999 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir to be the best from the Valley for that year and will thus fly the flag for Gibbston. A singular honour!

We are delighted to be present, along with 20 other Central Otago wineries, for this the second Central Otago Pinot Noir Celebration. This is a prestigious event attracting writers and enthusiasts from all over the world. In addition to the Central Otago wineries, this year there will be a number of invitees from elsewhere including Dry River, Fromm and Muddy Waters (NZ), Tally (US) and Diamond Valley (Aus).

20 November 2001

Two Paddocks Redbank Lavender Oil

Grown and Distilled by Two Paddocks Redbank, Clyde

To coincide with the opening of the Central Otago Wine Company Winery, Two Paddocks is pleased to launch its Two Paddocks Redbank Lavender Oil.

We're very happy with our Redbank Lavender Oil -- it's an amazingly luxurious essential oil, redolent of sun, the Mediterranean, the South of France, if you're that way inclined. To us it's much more about dry hot Central Otago summers -- a far better prospect. Our lavender is grown at Redbank, and distilled there as well. It has many uses, apart from the sheer pleasure of having it around. We recommend it for its antiseptic qualities, for the relief of muscle tension, for its soothing effects on the nervous system.

First Aid -- It is strongly antiseptic and will help to heal burns, wounds and sores. Also will relieve pain and inflammation if rubbed on insect stings and bites.

Headaches -- Try rubbing a few drops on the temples.

Muscle Tension -- Put a few drops in the bath to relieve muscle tension, and encourage a good nights sleep. We also put a drop or two on the pillows at lights out.

Massage -- For an excellent massage oil add 20 drops of Redbank Lavender Oil to 20 ml of olive or almond oil. Superb!

Two Paddocks Redbank Lavender Oil is available now at Central Otago Wine Co., and perhaps later at selected outlets. For external use only. Available in a 15 ml bottle for $19 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Let us know if you enjoy it as much as we do!

8 November 2001

Two Paddocks Clothing

Available Now at the Central Otago Wine Company

Due to an avalanche of demand (would we exaggerate to you?) a limited supply of our clothing line is now available at Central Otago Wine Company. The world's most exclusive outerwear, crafted in Canada, includes:

Roots Frost Polo Zip -- Heavy weight fleeced jumper, long sleeved. Very warm. In cheerful red. Inscribed "Two Paddocks" in small black letters on the left. -- $155 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Glacier Jacket -- Black fleece, with red "Two Paddocks" small letters. Very Chic. -- $155 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Tee Shirt -- White. Excellent quality. Inscribed "Neill Pinot Noir Two Paddocks" as on label of wine, in red and black. Much admired. -- $45 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Caps -- (pictured right) Black with tan pigskin peak. Inscribed "Two Paddocks" in red. Cool. -- $40 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Two Paddocks clothing is carefully designed for all occasions; coronations, investitures, christenings and formal balls etc'. More than one punter looked sharp at the Melbourne Cup this year in our kit, and we have also been told of sightings in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. These are probably unreliable reports however; some of our spies tend to the bibulous. On the other hand, at such time as you are attending to plumbing and electrical duties around the manor, you will not feel out of place in a Two Paddocks sweater. Although made for both sexes our clothes somehow make women more attractive, and men undeniably more handsome.

Relax, look good, light the pipe - the world looks rosier when you are dressed by TWO PADDOCKS.

At this point, we are not accepting mail order because, here at the bureau, we are still unable to find anyone with sufficient skills to spell your address correctly. But we do recommend a visit to the winery and our well-dressed staff will be happy to look after you there.

5 November 2001

New Winery Opening -- Central Otago Wine Company

On November 16, New Zealand's most handsome winery opens its doors. The Central Otago Wine Company, in which Two Paddocks has an interest, and which makes our World Famous Wine, launches its new building at what some have unkindly called a Friday night piss up. Another plain but serviceable ex-Ministry of Works building in Cromwell, the winery has been entirely refurbished and redesigned by Athfield Architects of Wellington. Leading critics have dubbed it "fab."

If you're in the area, please stop by for a visit. The winery is located at:

Building #1, Lake Dunstan Industrial Estate
McNulty Road
Cromwell, Central Otago

The cellar door hours are:

Summer -- 10 am-5 pm daily (from Labour weekend, which is the 3rd weekend of October to Easter weekend in March or April)
Winter -- 10am - 5pm weekdays, closed weekends.

Two Paddocks enthusiasts everywhere will be thrilled to know that not only will their favourite wine be available in the winery's retail cellar, but they will also be able to buy other exciting Two Paddocks products there as well.

19 October 2001

New Release -- 1999 Neill Pinot Noir

We are delighted to offer, initially on a local basis only, our 1999 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir.
As you know, 1999 was a great year for Central Otago, and the 1999 Two Paddocks is outstanding in an exceptional year. It is certainly our best vintage. The nose includes sage, blackberry, raspberry and cherry. On the palate the wine has a sweet fruit attack lengthening to a warm, rich concentrated texture and complex seductive finish.

A significant proportion of this vintage is going to the States, where it has already had an enthusiastic reception. It is therefore very limited in supply.

9 October 2001

Bottling -- 2000 Neill Pinot Noir

Today, at Central Otago Wine Company, we bottled the 2000 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir. We were tempted to call it the Millennium Edition, but of course since we are famous for our lack of pretension, this was out of the question.

The flower depicted this year is the yellow Gorse flower. On the back label, in small lettering, there is a dedication to Priscilla Neill who died in the spring of the year this wine began (November of 1999). This was accompanied by many other natural phenomena of a calamitous nature in New Zealand - cold, floods, etc. This, in part, accounts for the very very low output for 2000; only 150 cases.

The choice of the Gorse flower is in keeping with our modest flower policy but applies, in this case particularly, to P. Neill who always enjoyed the hills when the Gorse was in bloom. Of course, she understood that gorse was a curse for the farmer, but she thought that it was beautiful anyway. This was a little part of her great enthusiasm for life and the landscape.

Last year's flower on the about to be released 1999 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir is the common Briar Rose which again is a menace for the farmer, but has its own beauty at the right time of the year. And we are always mindful of the rosehip which saved all those little pommy kiddies from scurvy in the war (MAFN).

We are thrilled with the 2000 vintage. It has spent 18 months in the barrel and is all things seductive and gorgeous. We expect to release this wine in March of next year perhaps.

14 June 2001

News on Forthcoming Releases

Hot from the proprietor!

Two Paddocks Two pallets are now in transit to San Francisco, and we plan a simultaneous release of this distinguished vintage (round the vowels as you read this aloud) in August in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Eager anticipation is palpable. Looking very good indeed in preview.

2000 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir
Dean Shaw, sage and seer, has decided that another six months in the barrel will benefit our 2000 vintage, and we therefore anticipate bottling sometime in perhaps September or October. We are very much looking forward to having a look at it then; it promises to be very unusual, but superb in its own idiosyncratic fashion. It will certainly be even more rare than ever; only about 150 cases in all.

20 March 2001

Summer 2001

After a changeable spring and an indifferent Christmas/New Year period, Central Otago has now enjoyed a glorious late summer and early autumn. Long hot days have been followed by cool nights, and we at T.P. have become increasingly confident of an excellent vintage. Alex Paddocks is well ahead of One Paddock Gibbston and is up to perhaps half crop this year. We expect to pick there in three to four weeks time, while Gibbston will be in mid May.

3 January 2001

Spring 2000

Both One Paddock Gibbston and Alex Paddocks have gotten off to a great start and are flourishing under a warm if slightly windy spring. Alex Paddocks is about two weeks ahead of Gibbston which augurs well for the future. Budburst at both vineyards coincided with the opening of the trout fishing season. Fruitset at Gibbston was around Christmas Day, and at Alex Paddocks about December 8th. The three photos shown here were taken in December 2000.

Rugged hills and budding vines at Alex Paddocks.

View of the Remarkables from One Paddock Gibbston.

Alex Paddocks with new spring growth.