Premium Pinot Noir

2007 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.

Winemakers Tasting Notes:

Brambles, blackcurrants and dusty blackberry with dried herbal notes. Good mid palate density with light chalky tannins. A nice elegant length, and persistent lingering finish.

Vintage Comments:

The Alexandra basin experienced a prolonged frost season – from bud burst in early October until mid December! This cold spell slowed shoot growth and led inevitably to an average flowering. Summer finally arrived in early January, with February being one of the driest on record, with no rainfall!

Yields were lower this season with small bunches and small berries. Harvest was mid April.

Viticulturalist: Richard Flatman

Winemaker: Dean Shaw

Total Production: 981 cases

Exported to: Australia, USA, Ontario, Hong Kong, United Kingdom

Drink:  2009 – 2015

Release Date: February 2009

Reviews:

(89) Attractive wine with finely focused fruit flavours and an ethereal texture. Elegant and charming Pinot Noir that's very accessible now. Red cherry and spicy oak are the dominant flavours. -- July 2008, Bob Campbell Wine Reviews

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The 2007 vintage is full-coloured, rich and supple, with finely balanced cherry, plum and spice flavours, well-integrated oak, and a long finish. Floral, savoury and refined, its already drinking well. -- Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2009

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Any cynicism that Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks venture may not be all that serious is dispelled the minute this wine unravels in the glass. A little Gibbston fruit is used to support the bounty of Neill’s Alexandra vineyard and the result is an impressive wine showing abundant dark skinned fruit, a fine herbal edge and gently gripping tannins. -- Nick Ryan, Gourmet Traveller Wine, February/March, 2009,

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There's a lot of darkly toasted, spicy oak dominating this wine at present, although undertones of sweet fruit, mineral and a taffeta finish manage to emerge, giving it some charm.
Definitely for those who enjoy oaky wines. -- Charmian Smith, Otago Daily Times, 19 August 2009

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(89 points) The 2007 Pinot Noir is Two Paddock’s typical rustic take on Central Otago Pinot. An odd nose at first, almost soapy, but it comes together with further time in the glass. A little stemmy (as usual) but certainly with character. The palate is medium-bodied with touches of thyme lacing the red-berried fruit, showing a degree of elegance on the finish. Individual, but intriguing. I tasted Sam Neill’s wines both blind and at a well-organized public Central Otago tasting. --Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com

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Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2007 (89pts) (and its kinder!) Good medium red. Captivating aromas of red fruits, dried flowers, cinnamon and smoke. Sweet, suave and light on its feet, with lovely energy to the red berry and mineral flavors. A pure and refined pinot that finishes classically dry and with enticing peppery lift. -- Steve Tanzer’s Wine Access (wineaccess.com) (USA)

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A note of coconut on the nose. Nice moderate weight. A lighter style with sweet blackberry fruit and spices. Integrated toasty oak with a note of bacon-fat. Excellent balance and finish. -- WineNZ, Winter Issue 2009