2012 Picnic Pinot Noir

About the wine

PICNIC

  The jovial chap with a pipe is Sidney Neill, importer of French wines (among other things) enjoying a picnic at Karitane Beach, Otago circa 1919.

Featuring the Proprietor's Grandfather, Sydney Neill -- Wine Merchant, on the label, Picnic is our perennial favourite -- the wine to enjoy everyday and a wonderful introduction to the pleasure of Central Otago Pinot Noir. With all fruit sourced from Two Paddock's own vineyards, Picnic Pinot Noir is made in a diminutive style aimed to reflect the characters that Central Otago Pinot does so very well -- black and red cherry fruit, spice and a generosity that keeps you reaching for the next sip.

Tasting Notes

Vintage Comment:

Much to the chagrin of the rest of the country, Central Otago was the only region in New Zealand to not only have a summer, but it was a great summer! A generally warmer year than 2011, the fruit displayed ripe, berry fruit flavours, gentle acidities and well behaved pH levels. Ideal December flowering conditions resulted in well formed medium sized bunches at desired low cropping rates. A relatively long cool autumn ripening period produced low sugar levels and wine based on mineral complexity with subtle fruit characteristics.

Winemakers Notes:

Hand harvested, 85% de-stemmed and given 5-7 pre-fermentation cold maceration. After an indigenous ferment (no bought commercial yeast used) the wine is given another 5-7 days post ferment time on skins. Wine is then transferred to 1-4 year old French medium toast barriques for a 10 month maturation in predominantly older oak, before racking and bottling.

Redcurrant, bramble, wildflower and spice aromatics followed by a richly textured wine. Nice tension, flow and persistence.

pH  3.63 -- TA   5.9 g/l -- Alc  13.0%

Proprietor: Sam Neill

Viticulturist: Mike Wing

Winemaker: Dean Shaw

Bottled: February 2013

Total Production: 1983 cases

Cellaring: 2013 – 2017