AKARUA PINOT NOIR 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"Akarua Pinot Noir has a medium to dark purple with ruby pink hues. The nose reveals a fragrant sweet dark berry, blueberry, spice, mushroom, and a hint of leather. The palate is full bodied with sweet dark cherries, spice, dried herb and smoky oak. Concentrated with bright acidity, silky fine texture and a very long mineral finish. This wine has an excellent ageing potential of over 10 years (2032+)."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, March 2020 (2020 Vintage)
"Fragrant, varietal and fruit centric youthful bouquet of sweet raspberry and red plum, cherry compote and red apple skin. Aromas of oak weave through with scents of baking spice and white smoke. A savoury seam throughout the bouquet adds a sense of place and complexity. Delicious, on the palate with an abundance of fine tannins and acidity then a core of red berry fruit and plum flavours that reflect the bouquet. Salivating, savoury, fresh and delicious. A wine for immediate enjoyment or store away till 2024 then drink through 2030."

4 ½ Stars Michael Cooper (2020 Vintage)
"Estate-grown, hand-harvested from 24 year-old vines, and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (27 per cent new), the full, bright ruby 2020 vintage is still very youthful. Mouthfilling, it is vibrantly fruity and savoury, with cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing excellent depth, vigour and complexity. Best drinking 2024+."

4 ½ Stars Cuisine Pinot Noir Tasting, April 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Huge intensity of aroma on the nose with cherries, raspberries, plums, toast and hints of cured meats and spice that are also evident on the palate. A concentrated wine for lovers of the bigger style of pinot noir. Although a more robust style, this wine is well balanced with great definition."

5 Stars & 18.5/20 Candice Chow for Raymond Chan Reviews (2019 Vintage)
"The nose is elegantly powerful with classic Central Otago Pinot Noir nuances of black and red cherries, blackberries and blueberries, entwined with dark herbs, thyme, black pepper and toasty oak spice details. Full-bodied, dark cherries with bramble along with dark herbs and oak spices. The fruit is rich and intense in aromas, interweaved with fine-grained tannin extraction, providing support alongside toasty oak and alcohol power. Complexing details of dark herbs, spices and earth unfolding as its aerated. Warming alcohol carries spices and liquorice to a lengthy and robust finish."

Gold Medal, dish.co.nz, April 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"This stunning wine well and truly wowed our judges with its elegantly exotic aromas, it’s rich, seamless textures and beautifully integrated tannins. “It’s got a savoury core and superb fruit,” noted Cameron (Douglas MS), while Marty (Pickering) loved its generosity and combination of black and redcurrant complexity. “I adore this wine,” added Yvonne (Lorkin). “More please!”"

93/100 Gourmet Traveller Magazine, NZ Pinot Noir Tasting, June 2021 (2019 Vintage)
"2019 Akarua Bannockburn Pinot Noir gained top points from Bourne. “Rich aromatics of red cherries and ripe plums with hints of mocha and all-spice. Fulsome palate with lush, plush flavours. Well-integrated acid and tannins combine to extend the finish.” I added “raspberry compote”, with other red fruit flavours. Good mid-palate flesh and a firm cut of tannin."