2024 Devils Staircase Pinot Noir, Central Otago

The bouquet is sweetly ripe and inviting and shows ripe cherry, olive, floral, and toasted almond characters. The palate displays juicy fruit intensity with spicy nuances, well supported by supple texture and fine tannins, offering excellent drinking. At its best: now to 2030 Apr 2025

93 points Sam Kim for Wine Orbit

The Devil's Staircase takes its name from the winding road that runs from Queenstown to Kingston along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. It is Rockburn's most approachable Pinot Noir expression, sourced from their Parkburn and Gibbston Valley vineyards.

The 2024 growing season in Central Otago was warm and dry, producing well-concentrated fruit with good even ripeness across both sites. Vinified in tank without oak to keep the fruit clean and immediate. Extended skin contact of 18 to 25 days builds colour and structure without the wine needing barrel time to find its shape.

Ruby crimson, the nose shows black Doris plum, blueberry and bramble with a lifted spice and floral lift. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, vibrant fruit and a clean, fresh finish.

Best opened young and served with a slight chill with grilled salmon or a mushroom risotto.