2022 Rockburn The Art Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Gently aromatic pinot noir with appealing and nicely integrated floral/red rose, dark cherry, vanilla, cassis, strawberry cream flavours. Mouth-watering wine that has been made with a light touch. Charming wine that is drinking well now. Drink 2024–2029.

96 points Bob Campbell for The Real Review, December 2023 

The aromas and brightness are impressive, with rose petals, pure sliced strawberries and sandalwood. Medium-bodied with smoke, caramel and strawberry flavors. Juicy and so flavorful at the end. So much going on here and lots of structure. Polished and very curated. Drink or hold. 

95 points James Suckling, March 2024

The 2022 The Art Pinot Noir manages a few things at once: there is levity of fruit and color, with persistence and impact of flavor, and the tannins are fine but quite firm, giving it structure and shape. In the mouth, the acidity is tart, but it works within the confines of the wine to deliver freshness and high drinkability. This is a good wine here. It tastes like Central Otago Pinot Noir in the best of ways. Drink 2024–2032.

91 points Erin Larkin for The Wine Advocate, February 2025

The Art sits outside the regular Rockburn vineyard hierarchy. Where the estate's single vineyard and barrel selection wines draw on specific blocks from Parkburn and Gibbston, The Art gives Malcolm Rees-Francis the freedom to work with fruit from other selected Central Otago sites and make the wine on instinct rather than formula. A proportion of whole bunches is included during fermentation to build spice and texture. The result is a wine with its own distinct character within the range.

The 2022 vintage in Central Otago was warm and generous, producing fruit of concentration and richness. Deep ruby, the nose shows dark cherry, plum and violet with anise spice and a fine floral lift. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, vibrant acidity and a long, layered finish. The whole bunch element gives the wine a savoury complexity that sets it apart from a straightforward fruit-driven expression.

A wine that is likely to be able to handle calssic pinot and game combinations: venison with juniper and herbs, or Cantonese roast goose.

Drink now through 2030.