Premium Pinot Noir

2006 Two Paddocks Pinot Noir

A blend made from our three vineyards – Gibbston, Alexandra, and Redbank at Earnscleugh, this wine is a quintessential cool climate Pinot Noir.

As in the vineyard, this wine is hand crafted using traditional methods and aged in small French oak barrels for 11 months, using a mix of older and new (25%) barrels.

Redcurrant, vanilla, hints of tobacco and black cherry aromatics are complimented with a warm richly textured palette. This wine exhibits a great depth of flavour with a strong dominant finish.

Viticulturalist: Richard Flatman

Winemaker: Dean Shaw

Available: July 2007

Drink:  2007 - 2012

Reviews:

Very dark. Very youthful but bold and assertive fruit with a swag of oak. Tannins are firm and solid. Has the concentration and depth of flavor to develop over  time. -- Wine NZ Magazine

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The 2006 vintage (****) was blended from grapes from the company’s three vineyards at Gibbston, Earnscleugh and Alexandra. Matured in French oak barriques (30 % new), it is mouth fulling and savoury, with cherry, herb and plum flavours showing good ripeness, complexity and density, and a backbone of firm tannins. Well worth cellaring. -- Michael Cooper, Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines 2008

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Rating: (****) 87 - 90 -- Grapes were sourced from their three vineyards in Central Otago: Gibbston, Alexandra and Redbank at Earnscleugh.  A youthful, tightly-framed wine showing ripe plums, cured meat and a hint of spicy oak.  It’s Central rich and opulent on the palate with a weighty, dense texture and fine tannins.  A well-structured wine needing time to shine.  At its best: early 2008 to 2010.  $40.00  Moderate availability. -- Senior Wine Judge, Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

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90 points -- The 2006 Pinot Noir has the edge, quite complex on the earthy, leathery nose; the medium bodied palate inbued with good natural acidity, earthy elements and a light, savoury, grainy finish. --30 May 2008, The Wine Advocate, www.eRobertParker.com, Neal Martin