Bob Campbell 97 points!
Wine Front 93 points!
Bob Campbell 97 points!
Dense, powerful pinot noir that's loaded with flavour. Layers of red and dark fruits, spice and an interesting savoury edge that's harder to define. Long and seamless. This is clearly a winery with a great future
Bob Campbell, Gourmet Traveller Wine June/July 2011
Wine Front 93 points!!
The debutant Burn Cottage Pinot Noir 2009 comes from allegedly the first vineyard in Central Otago to be planted to BD from the onset. Resting above the Pisa ranges in a natural amphitheatre, the vineyard was planted in 2002/3 with a broad mix of clones and revels in its kind of wild, biodiversity-rich feel. They've brought on board Ted Lemon, a highly experienced wine maker who has worked extensively in Burgundy, and is a favoured name in NZ wine circles. Additionally, they have scored the services of Claire Mulholland as winemaker and GM, widely regarded for her time with Martinborough Vineyards and Amisfield. And she is a lovely person.
For their first release wine this is a small triumph. While the wine does show it's youth and vineyard age, there is serious detail for a wine of such infancy. Purple fruits and spice (think cardamon and cinnamon) meet wet earth, suede and dried currants in the bouquet " there is a presence of greenery, but it's background only at this stage. The palate is slippery and concentrated, but shows layering with an interplay of fresh, pretty fruit and cedary, gently oaked fruit (40% goes into new oak while around 20% rests in stainless steel barrels). The wine has a pure feel and cool reserve amongst the brassy fruit presence and flows with an energy I'd expect from wines with many more runs on the board. While not entirely bound, there is cohesion in the flavour profile of the wine and it almost finds a seamless line. An impressive debut.
Worth tracking down to get on board early with a producer that will surely go on to greater things and production will always be limited.
Mike Bennie, Wine Front, March 2011
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
NZ- Central Otago
Variety:
Wine Red - Pinot noir
Size:
750mL
