Picnic Wine

2009 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 2009 is made in a diminutive style suggesting approachability and value for money, although our winemaker advises enjoy in moderation!

Winemaker’s Notes: A rich ruby colour, with hints of brambles, plums up front, with a distinct herbs and spice in mid palate with the savoury undertones that are distinctive of the vintage. This wine shows good length and depth in its youth and will develop more complexity with bottle age.

Vintage Comments: A vintage we are unlikely to forget! A -4 degree Celsius frost on November 7 2008, completely frosted our Redbank vineyard in Alexandra. So without a doubt it was a challenging vintage from start to finish! There was some good weather through flowering, and a positive fruit set was achieved. Most comments through the rest of the season was “What summer?” as more than average moisture and less than average growing degree days slowed veraison and maturity. And again the dreaded frosts presented themselves again in April forcing our hand at harvest.

Winemaker: Dean Shaw – Central Otago Wine Company

Bottled: April 2010.

Total Production: 3000 cases

Release Date: April 2011

Cellaring: 2011 – 2017

Pre Release Reviews:

A Central Otago regional blend, the 2009 vintage (☆☆☆) tastes like a second tier Two Paddocks Pinot Noir, rather than a sort of picnic Beaujolais. Matured in French oak barrels (25% new), it is full ruby, with strong plum, herb and spice flavours, showing some savoury complexity, and fairly firm tannins. -- Michael Cooper’s Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines 2011

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Light dry wine with subtle cherry flavours supported by fine and drying tannins. A bit short but is solidly varietal and offers reasonable value. (☆☆☆) -- Bob Campbell – www.bobswinereviews.com

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Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2009 Picnic Pinot Noir has aromas of black cherries, warm raspberry, cinnamon and cloves. Medium bodied and structured with a low to medium level of silky tannins and a refreshingly high level of acidity, there plenty of juicy fleshing the middle and lingering long into the finish. Drink it now to 2014. -- The Wine Advocate – www.eRobertParker.com, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

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Pinot noir ruby.  Bourgogne rouge is the best descriptor here, for though the wine is clearly pinot noir, it also includes an appealing measure of European complexity factors such as brett, often found in quaffing burgundies.  Palate is soft, round and very food friendly, showing red and black cherry fruit and older oak,  already nearly mellow.  Cellar 2 – 5 years.  (☆☆☆) -- Geoff Kelly – www.geoffkellywinereviews.co.nz