COAL PIT TIWHA PINOT NOIR 2022

Winery notes (2022 Vintage)
"Elegant and refined, the foundation Tiwha instantly captivates with a rich perfume of black forest, wet earth, exotic anise seed, fragrant wild roses, with a savoury hint of wild thyme, green olives, and dusted cocoa. Delicate, yet well structured tannin is supported by an oak finesse, framing the brambled palate. Sweet yet savoury notes of black currant and dark black cherry are well balanced with a brickish minerality that flows through to finish the wine. Evolution from time in the glass is rewarded.

Typically some secondary character profiles will evolve after 3-4 years, while retaining fruit vibrancy. With careful cellaring, flavours will age gracefully into more tertiary and complex characters, around 8-10 years old. 20% whole bunch, 100% wild fermentation, aged for 10 months in 30% new French oak.

Enjoy with a wide range of food, however this wine matches exceptionally well with game, mushroom and truffle dishes. A broad array of spices can be successfully paired to the wine’s flavours – get creative and best of all, enjoy with good company.

The iconic label is the work of Chris Heaphy, famed New Zealand artist and creator of all the Coal Pit labels."

5 Stars & 96/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, October 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Refined and gorgeously expressed, showing sweet cherry, dark plum, olive, clove, porcini and toasted almond nuances on the nose. The palate displays excellent concentration and silky flow, splendidly complemented by plush texture and layers of polished tannins, making it wonderfully harmonious and structured. At its best: now to 2035. "

Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"Another fine example of Pinot Noir from Central Otago and Gibbston, and this producer. Aromas and flavours of dark berries and plum, there’s a rugged landscape and thyme echoed through the bouquet. Firm and dry as the wine touches the palate, a core of berry fruits from dark cherry to black currant framed by ripe tannins and acidity. The seam of minerality from crumbled stony soils add complexity and depth. The oak is fine and softer adding a delicate sweetness as well as finer tannins and structure. A delicious wine with complexity, youth, length and longevity. Best drinking from 2028 through 2038."

94/100 Susie Barrie MW & Peter Richards MW (UK), Susie & Peter New Zealand Wines of the Year 2026 (2022 Vintage)
"Coal Pit is a family-owned operation in Gibbston, Central Otago, based around a 12-hectare vineyard first planted in 1994. These are some of the oldest vines in Gibbston and the vineyard is farmed organically. The first Coal Pit wines were made in 2006 and Pinot Noir now takes centre stage. This particular cuvee, Tiwha, which sits at the top of the range, is named after owner Rosie Dunphy’s late father. (The coal pit name, meanwhile, is from a local site where miners and pioneers would load up with fuel on their journeys.) The 2022 vintage gave good yields of concentrated fruit and the wine was made using 20% whole bunch, ambient-yeast fermentation and then 10 months of ageing in 30% new French oak barrels. The result is a serious but engaging style of Pinot with plenty of dark berry fruit and spicy energy but also a dried flower, bloody, faintly ferruginous complexity. Hints of the Côte de Nuits here, with fine detail as well as impressive vitality. The winery’s suggested food match is beef tartare, anchovy cream and salt and vinegar chips. Which all sounds pretty heavenly to us."