Dicey is the Central Otago brand of the Dicey brothers. Father Robin and sons James and Matt have had an integral involvement in many aspects of Central Otago wine since the early 1990's. The family were founding partners in Mt Difficulty with Matt being the winemaker since its inception in 1996 until now and James viticulturalist for many well known Central Otago wineries. They know their stuff!
Winery notes (2020 Vintage)
"Wine is about place. Dicey is a place that is a rocky pocket of Central Otago: Bannockburn. It’s not easy to make wine here. Hoar frosts. Wind. Bitter cold and crackling heat. The land is unforgiving and the wines express that struggle.
The fruit comes from three vineyards started by three families transcending two generations. James and Odelle have The Inlet. Matt and Ali belong to Black Rabbit. Their pioneering parents, Robin and Margi, own their Swansong.
Dicey Bannockburn wines pay homage. They tell the annual story of the region and share the colours of each season.
Aromas: Dark berry. Savoury. Floral
Palate: Rich. Complex. Structured.
60% The Inlet vineyard, 40% Black Rabbit vineyard. 2% whole clusters, 98% destemmed. 23 days on skins 9 days cold soak, 8 days ferment, 9 days post ferment. Indigenous yeast. The wines were punched down once per day through to dryness, then left to soak. Malolactic fermentation in the spring. 12 months in barrel with 21% new oak. Bottled unfined but filtered July 2021."
Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, December 2021 (2020 Vintage)
"Lovely complexity and concentration with ripe red berry fruits and a core of stony mineral, some light dried herb and layers of oak spice and fine toasty qualities. On the palate – equally complex and fruity with layers of pinosity and panache, youthful intensity and chalky textured mouthfeel. An abundance of coarse silk tannins and back bone of acidity contrasted by fruit and textured mouthfeel. A delicious wine, youthful and fresh, needs time to integrate and develop with best drinking from late 2022 through 2029+."
93/100 Jane Skilton MW, Wine Magazine, October 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"A delightfully pure expression of pinot noir with plenty of red cherry, damson and raspberry fruit. Good sense of place courtesy of notes of Central Otago dried thyme and lavender. Bold and richly fruited, with polished tannins and a nice floral lift on the finish."