2021 Rippon Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Lovely ripe berries and strawberries with some juicy fruit and forest flower aromas that follow through to a full body with layers of fruit and fine tannins that spread across the palate. Oyster shell and granite-like undertones. Warm fruit character yet cool in the mouth. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink after 2025, but already beautiful.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir from Central Otago is one of New Zealand’s most profound expressions of the variety, grown on one of the country’s most breathtaking vineyard sites. Situated on the shores of Lake Wānaka, Rippon’s north-facing slopes are farmed biodynamically and planted on ancient schist and glacial deposits, producing Pinot Noir of remarkable energy, detail and longevity.

This wine is crafted from the estate’s oldest vines, many planted in the early 1980s by the Mills family, true pioneers of Central Otago viticulture. Today, Nick Mills leads the winemaking with a deeply intuitive and terroir-focused approach, favouring wild fermentations, whole bunch inclusion, minimal sulphur and gentle extraction.

The result is a wine of both grace and gravitas. Aromas of wild thyme, dark cherry, rose petal and crushed rock float over a savoury undercurrent of game, dried herbs and forest floor. The palate is supple and silken, yet structured, with layered red fruit, fine tannins and an electric line of acidity that carries through a long, mineral finish.

This is a Pinot Noir that deserves time in the glass or a decanter to fully reveal its complexity. Pair it with duck breast, venison, mushroom polenta or a slow-roasted beet and goat cheese tart. Cellar confidently for 10 to 15 years.