Two Paddocks Pinot Noir

Excellent weight, body, texture and concentration. Dark cherries and ripe berry fruit flavours, but also shows excellent complexity, tannin and structure.

• Winery: Two Paddocks
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Region: Central Otago, New Zealand
• Vintage: 2023
• Alcohol: 13%
• Volume: 750ml
• Closure: Screwcap
• Other: Certified Organic, Vegan-Friendly
• Food match: Chicken, duck, lamb rack, tuna, salmon, mushroom risotto, cheese platter

Two Paddocks flagship Pinot Noir. Dark blackberry, wild herb, spice and intrigue aromatically. The wine then moves into a dense richly textured mouthfeel. Elegance, finesse abound holding the wine into a tightly knit package whilst will drink superbly in its youth will also reward those who choose to cellar the wine.

Two Paddocks started in 1993 with modest ambitions and first planted five acres of pinot noir at Two Paddocks original little vineyard at Gibbston, Central Otago in the deep south of New Zealand. At the same time, Sam Neil's friend Roger Donaldson planted the land next door, hence the name Two Paddocks. Sam wanted to produce a good pinot noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by his family and friends. To his great surprise, Two Paddocks first vintage in 1997 was much better than they hoped, in spite of a difficult growing season. 1998 was a more distinguished vintage, and in 1999 they were astounded to produce a pinot that was, they thought, world class. They produced a wine of considerable complexity with an amazing nose, delicious fruit and a good lengthy finish (from clones 10/5 and 5). So rewarding has this vineyard been over the years (and so unpromising as a sheep paddock) that they planted another 5 acres of Burgundian clones there in 2008 bringing the total acreage at The First Paddock, Gibbston, to 5 hectares.

Since that original release in 1997, with each successive year they have produced a pinot noir (sometimes 4 or 5 pinot noirs). Admirably, Two Paddocks have become outrageously ambitious - they want to produce year after year, the world's best pinot noir. 

• 96 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2022 vintage)
• 4.5/5 Stars - Michael Cooper (2021 vintage)
• 5 Stars & 95/100 Points - Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (2020 vintage)
• 94 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2019 vintage)
• 94 Points - Wine Enthusiast, Editors’ Choice (2018 vintage)
• 94 Points & 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2018 vintage)
  
• 93 Points - Nick Stock, James Suckling (2018 vintage)
• 95 Points & 5 Stars - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit (2017 vintage)
• 93 Points - Nick Stock, James Suckling (2017 vintage)
• 5 Stars - Michael Cooper's NZ Wine Buyer's Guide (2016 vintage)
• 91 Points - MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator Insider (2016 vintage)