Picnic Pinot Noir - 2008

About the wine

PICNIC

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 favorite – 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 2008 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

Winemaker’s Notes: Brambles, cherries, with hints of coffee and mocha in the mid palate with savory undertones, this wine shows good length and depth in its youth and will develop more complexity with bottle age.

Vintage Comments: As usual the 2008 vintage provided its fair share of challenges, the most notable being early frosts in Gibbston and late frosts in the Alexandra basin. But on the whole it pretty good season with excellent fruit set followed by near perfect weather during the growing season. This is undoubtly our biggest crop to date which in time will give us a classic Central Otago Pinot – elegant, complex and well structured full of the typical spice and fruit.

Winemaker: Dean Shaw – Central Otago Wine Company

Viticulturalist: Richard Flatman

Bottled: 24 – 26 June 2009

Cases Produced: 4995

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

Release Date: October 2009

Cellaring: 2009 – 2016