2024 McArthur Ridge Wines Southern Tor Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Very bright and fruity with a varietal core of dark raspberry and plum fruits, wild flowers and dried herbs, violets and layers of barrel spice. Youth and energy. On the palate a dry wine with a powerhouse of fruit and style, players of red berry fruits and barrel spice moments, lees and earth smoke. Firm tannins and medium+ acid line deliver a wine of freshness and style. Will need some cellar time to show its true potential with best drinking likely from 2029 through 2035. I am keen to try this wine again in a year to confirm its potential.

94 points Cameron Douglas MS camdouglasms.com

The McArthur Ridge Wines Southern Tor Pinot Noir from Central Otago is a vibrant, fruit-driven expression of one of New Zealand’s most celebrated wine regions. McArthur Ridge, based in Alexandra in the heart of Central Otago, has become known for producing Pinot Noir that captures both the richness and purity of this spectacular alpine terroir. The estate’s Southern Tor label focuses on approachable, expressive wines that highlight the fruit clarity and vibrancy for which Central Otago is famous.

The vineyards are planted on stony, free-draining soils shaped by glacial movement, with a dry continental climate that brings hot summer days, cool nights and a long ripening season. These conditions are ideal for Pinot Noir, producing grapes with concentrated flavours, fine tannins and natural acidity. In the cellar, the fruit is gently handled, with a mix of whole berries and traditional open fermentation to preserve freshness, before ageing in French oak to add subtle spice and structure.

In the glass, the wine is bright ruby. The bouquet is lifted and aromatic, showing red cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry, supported by hints of violet, thyme and gentle spice. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with juicy red fruit at the core, framed by fine tannins and a lively thread of acidity. A savoury, mineral edge adds depth, leading to a smooth, lingering finish.

Food pairings play to its elegance and freshness: roast duck, lamb cutlets with herbs, seared salmon, or vegetarian dishes like wild mushroom risotto, beetroot tart or lentil stew. This Pinot Noir is crafted for drinking in its youth, but it has the balance and structure to cellar gracefully for 5 to 7 years, gaining complexity with notes of earth, truffle and dried herbs.