2023 Prophet's Rock Sophora Vineyard Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Aromas of dark cherries, wild raspberries, orange peel and lead pencil. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and vivid acidity, giving notes of blackberries, blood oranges, dried herbs and crushed river-stones. Balanced and bright with a real purity and a mineral edge. The premier release of this new addition to Prophet’s Rock pinots. Drink or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

Prophet’s Rock Sophora Vineyard Pinot Noir from Central Otago is an elegant and finely etched expression of one of New Zealand’s most distinctive vineyard sites. Crafted by winemaker Paul Pujol, it showcases his signature philosophy of minimal intervention and quiet precision — allowing the unique soils, altitude and microclimate of the Bendigo subregion to define the wine. Sophora, named after the native kōwhai tree that blooms across the vineyard, represents purity, fragrance and a sense of place.

The Sophora Vineyard sits high on the slopes above Lake Dunstan, where schist soils, long sunlight hours and cool alpine nights create fruit with remarkable intensity and balance. The grapes are hand picked and carefully sorted, then fermented using wild yeasts in small open-top vats, with around 25 percent whole bunches to enhance aromatic lift and tannin texture. The wine is aged for about 17 months in French oak barrels, with only a small proportion new, before being bottled without fining or filtration.

In the glass it shimmers a translucent ruby red. The aroma is pure and perfumed, with layers of red cherry, wild strawberry, rose petal and thyme over subtle notes of spice, truffle and crushed stone. The palate is medium bodied and silky, showing great finesse and energy, with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins carrying flavours of red fruit, forest floor and mineral. The finish is long, savoury and graceful — a quiet reflection of both place and craftsmanship.

It pairs beautifully with duck, lamb, mushroom risotto or game birds, and it’s equally at home with truffle dishes or roasted root vegetables. While superb in its youth for perfume and purity, it will evolve beautifully for 10 to 15 years, gaining layers of earthy complexity and depth with time.