New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 'Sustainable Vineyard of the Year' 2024
Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The flagship from Two Paddocks, the estate Pinot Noir is an organically grown barrel selection produced from the four Central Otago vineyards – The Fusilier in Bannockburn, First Paddock in Gibbston, Last Chance and Red Bank in Alexandra. These small sites are high-density planted in a range of clonal material, cropped to under 5 tonne per hectare with most vineyard practices carried out by hand. An exemplary Central Otago style, which will be enhanced with bottle age.
Excellent weight, body, texture and concentration. Dark cherries and ripe berry fruit flavours, but also shows excellent complexity, tannin and structure.
Hand harvested, sorted in the vineyard, 50% 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 (18% new oak) for an 11 month maturation in predominantly older oak, before racking and bottling."
Reviews for the 2022 vintage below…
5 Stars Michael Cooper, July 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Certified organic, the impressive 2022 vintage was estate-grown at Bannockburn (47 per cent), Alexandra (31 per cent) and Gibbston (22 per cent), and matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (18 per cent new). Full, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with strong, youthful cherry, plum and spice flavours, oak complexity, and excellent depth, vibrancy and harmony. A very ageworthy red, it's well worth cellaring to mid-2025+."
5 Stars & 96/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, July 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"A blend of organic wines from Two Paddocks own vineyards in Bannockburn, Earnscleugh and Gibbston. It’s a bright, accessible pinot noir with cherry, cedar, new leather, rose petal, spice and nutty oak flavours."
5 Stars & 96/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, July 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"Stylish and seductive, the wine shows dark plum, assorted nut, thyme, cured meat and rich floral aromas on the nose, followed by a wonderfully weighted palate displaying silky flow and fleshy texture. Tannins are fine and beautifully infused, making the wine gorgeously harmonious and persistent. A blend of grapes from Bannockburn, Earnscleugh & Gibbston Vineyards. Certified organic. At its best: 2025 to 2037."