Pinot Noir: an ode
Pinot Noir. One of the oldest grape varieties in the world, and New Zealand’s most abundant red… this tricky grape put Central Otago on the (wine) map. Notoriously difficult to grow — it’s no surprise that our two brothers, James the viticulturist and Matt the winemaker, have very different things to say about it.
James:
"Difficult. Challenging. Temperamental. Fickle… And thats just the wine making team. Lay on a similar attitude from the vines and each season provides its challenges. The rewards are a transparent wine which talks of place and vintage and at its best is elegant, feminine, haunting. Each wine has a story to tell of successes and (hopefully rarely) failures. In Central Otago, being at the limits of reliable ripening and subject to extreme weather events, each of these characteristics are heightened."
Matt:
"Red. Delicious. The desire for deliciousness, somewhereness, leads to Pinot Noir. Central Otago Pinot Noir somehow manages to capture these intangible elements in spades.”
Dicey Bannockburn wines pay homage. They tell the annual story of the region and share the colours of each season. The Dicey Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2019 is a blend of delicious parcels from the brother’s vineyards. The Single Vineyard wines have an even sharper focus.