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2019
£25.00
Availability: 97 in stock
Dark berries, wild spices & earthy complexity. Fruit driven with coffee notes and a vibrant, expressive palate. Retains tension while still opening up in the glass. Sophistication station.
‘Two Paddocks’ is a family owned and operated winery based in Central Otago that is dedicated to producing quality wine. Actor and fellow New Zealander Sam Neill had the modest ambition and idea to found the winery in 1993 as he wanted to make wine that would at the very least be enjoyed by his family and friends. Little did he know it would build a cult following of Jurassic proportions (haaaa see what we did there). At the same the family friend Roger Donaldson planted land next door to their estate in Gibbston - hence the name “Two Paddocks”.
Their first vintage in 1997 produced a stunning Pinot Noir that exceeded their expectations as they had had a particularly difficult growing season. Their 1998 vintage was more distinguished and in 1999 they were astounded with what they had produced - able to confidently say they had a world class wine on their hands. Since then they have moved from strength to strength planting more clones, each of higher quality than the year before, and now are at the peak of their game.
‘Two Paddocks’ has also grown over other vineyards, and is producing multiple styles of Pinot Noir and now even branched into Riesling. The Vineyard is now also certified Organic and has put the environment at the forefront of its winemaking. Their website is a treasure trove of information, blogs, suggestions on movies and music to listen to with their wines and we highly recommend checking it out.
Found at the extreme limits of winemaking, Central Otago is found at 44° and 45° south and is home to some of the most southerly vineyards the world has to offer. Boasting breathtaking landscapes and an extreme climate, the local economy has garnered global recognition for its merino wool. However, over the previous decade, the majority of land has been shifted away from pasture, to being under vine. In 1996 Otago only had 11 vineyards, while today the region has a legion over 100 strong. The incredibly balanced styles of wine that flow from the region aren’t something to be missed, with Central Otago being the first in the world to challenge Burgundy’s production of Pinot Noir.
Central Otago’s four primary sub-regions are Wanaka, Gibbston, Bannockburn and Alexandra. While all are situated relatively close together and each has the same stony free-draining soil base, their full profiles vary immensely, but are glacially derived and have rich deposits of mica and schist making it ideal for the production of Pinot Noir, which just happens to be 80% of the production there. The excellent drainage helps retain mineral richness whilst temperatures can vary from 30degrees during ripening days to only 8degrees overnight, this swift shift allows the grape ripening process to stop more suddenly overnight, thus retaining all the wonderful natural acidity and fruit concentration this region can offer, to us this provides Central Otago with an intensely fruit-forward character no other region of New Zealand can replicate. Autumn frosts are a risk here too, so it’s just as well the growers down here have their wits about them…