Mt Difficulty Bannockb PinotN

The first vintage was 1998, and that first Pinot Noir won a gold medal at the 1999 Air New Zealand Wine Awards. Today the winery looks after more than 172 acres of vineyard, from both estate and leased sites. Bannockburn is a small sub-region on the south bank of the Kawarau River, and it is the warmest in Central Otago. Gold miners called it the Heart of the Desert. The vineyards sit at roughly 220 to 370 metres in sandy, silty loam, and the fruit ripens early.

The wine is dry and perfumed, with red and black cherry, raspberry and blueberry, then Szechuan pepper, cardamom and star anise over dried herbs. The tannins are fine and silky, the acidity is juicy and the finish is long.

Duck, pork belly, roast chicken, mushroom dishes and a plate of charcuterie all suit it, and it is worth decanting if you have time.