2023 Terra Sancta Estate Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Terra Sancta Estate Bannockburn Pinot Noir from Central Otago is a beautifully expressive, deeply scented and quietly powerful wine that reflects the magic of Terra Sancta’s home vineyards on Felton Road. Bannockburn is one of New Zealand’s most prized Pinot regions, famous for its schist, loess and gravel soils, long sunlight hours, cold nights and the dramatic temperature swings that give Pinot Noir both concentration and purity. Terra Sancta farms its estate parcels with meticulous care, treating each block separately and harvesting by hand across multiple passes to capture perfect ripeness and balance. The winemaking is thoughtful and restrained: wild ferment, a considered use of whole bunches for perfume and structure, and maturation in fine French oak that frames the wine without smothering its Bannockburn soul.

The aromatics are layered and captivating. Red cherry, raspberry, cranberry and wild strawberry sit at the core, wrapped in rose petal, pomegranate, orange oil and a whisper of thyme. Beneath the lifted fruit, deeper notes begin to emerge: warm earth, sandalwood, tea leaf, fine spice and the distinctive schist derived minerality that marks Bannockburn’s best sites. As the wine takes on air, hints of plum skin, dried herbs and a touch of cocoa widen the aromatic frame.

On the palate the wine is supple, detailed and beautifully shaped. A stream of red and dark berries flows across fine, powdery tannins that feel chalk edged and tightly woven, reflecting the dry, stony soils beneath the vines. Bright natural acidity keeps everything lively and focussed. Flavours of cherry, redcurrant, raspberry, spiced plum, savoury earth and subtle herbal notes build in elegant layers. There is both generosity and restraint, a sense of depth held in perfect tension by structure and freshness. The finish is long, refined and delicately savoury, with echoes of berry fruit, florals and cool stone. Five to eight years of cellaring will bring truffle, forest floor and deeper spice.

Brilliant with roast duck, lamb racks, venison carpaccio, mushroom risotto, chargrilled salmon, truffle pasta, charcuterie, soft washed rind cheeses or autumn vegetable dishes. A slight chill accentuates its aromatics and lift.