Two Paddocks
PICNIC Pinot Noir

2023

Crisp black cherry, doris plum and wild herb aromatics lead to a fresh, vibrant and exuberant fruit-intense palate. This wine shows enjoyable flavours and length.

About the wine

Featuring the Proprietor’s Grandfather, S.E.D. 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.

The fruit was sourced from Two Paddock’s estate vineyards in the Alexandra, Gibbston and Bannockburn sub-regions of Central Otago. 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, alluring spice and a generosity that keeps you reaching for the next sip.

Full Technical Notes

Wine makers notes

Hand harvested, 89% de-stemmed and given 5-7 days pre-fermentation cold maceration. After an indigenous ferment 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 (2% new oak) for a 9 month maturation in predominantly older oak, before racking and bottling.

VINTAGE COMMENTS

A mild, wet 2022 winter meant soils held a lot of water going into the spring and inter-row companion crops including clover, phacelia and barley got off to a strong start. Early spring was very cold and then as spring warmed up in November shoot growth was strong. Flowering started the first week in December and fruit set was considered good on most blocks. Mid-summer heat was high and growing degree days were above those in 2022 and on par with 2019 by the end of the season.

Picking dates were moving forward until the second half of March when the heat ran out and the final ripening was slow and cool. Harvest started on the 27th of March at Redbank Vineyard and finished on the 21st of April at The First Paddock, Gibbston. Cropping levels were just short of the optimum 2022 crop.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

PH Level

3.55

Total Acidity

6g/l

Alcohol

12.5%

Bottled

February 2024

Cellaring

2024-2028

Winemaker

Dean Shaw

Viticulturist

Mike Wing

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