Picnic Wine

2007 Picnic Pinot Noir

The label shows the proprietor's grandparents picnicking at Karitane Beach, Otago circa 1919. The jovial chap with a pipe is Sidney Neill, importer of French wines, among other things. The poor little blighter in the Toulouse-Latrec tie is Dermot Neill, then aged 4 years. Also in the foreground is Gwladys Neill, formidable matriarch and avid picnicker. In the background and weighing 20 lbs Gertrude Elworthy (nee Neill), the proprietor's esteemed aunt.

Once again our perennial favourite – the wine we enjoy everyday! With fruit sourced from Two Paddock’s three vineyards and supplemented with fruit from throughout the greater Central Otago region, our
Picnic Pinot Noir 2007 is made in a diminutive style suggesting approachability and value for money, although our winemaker advises enjoy in moderation! As in previous vintages, it’s already racing out the Cellar Door.

Tasting Notes: Dusty, wild blackberry, vanilla and redcurrant aromatics lead to a silky, elegant layered mouth feel with an intense blackfruit and spice mid-palate, leading to a warm lengthy finish.

Viticulturalist: Richard Flatman

Winemaker: Dean Shaw

Cellar: Drink now or to 2013

Available: New Zealand; Australia; United Kingdom; United States; Ontario, Canada; Hong Kong

Reviews:

(84 points) Ripe crushed strawberry and red cherry flavours with a silken texture. Appealing entry level Pinot Noir that has a little more weight and complexity than many at this price. Bone dry without the sometimes annoying sweetness that can be a feature of less expensive Pinot Noir.

-- July 2008, Bob Campbell, Bob's Wine Reviews

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The 2007 vintage is an attractive drink-young style, … deeply coloured, with a lifted, aromatic, spicy bouquet, it is fresh and ripe, with very satisfying depth of cherry, plum and spice flavours, a touch of complexity and a smooth finish. -- Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2009

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A Central Otago regional blend, this is an attractive drink young style with deep, youthful colour and a lifted, aromatic, spicy bouquet. The palate is fresh and ripe, with very satisfying depth of cherry, plum, and spice flavours, a touch of complexity and a smooth finish. -- Winestate, September/October 2008

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From actor Sam Neill’s vineyards, this easy wine hints of dark cherries and fresh field mushrooms with a suggestion of spicy oak. A bright, nicely balanced, textural wine.
-- February 11, 2009, Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times

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An impressive second label pinot from Sam Neill's Two Paddocks wine label, it has soft, silky strawberry and cherry fruit fused with dusty spice and a hint of savoury. -- New Zealand Herald, 26 July 2009 -- Read full article