2024 Nevis Bluff The Holdsworth Pinot Noir, Central Otago

98 points (Double Gold) New Zealand International Wine Show 2025

Immaculately defined dark red berries, hibiscus and rose petals shrouded in vanilla and clove oak. Broad-shouldered with finely-hewn tannins, bright acidity and a wild thyme abundance that parades towards the long, charismatic finish. Stand out.

97 points (Platinum) Decanter World Wine Awards 2026

Smoky, stony aromatics open into vibrant black cherry, red berry and plum, layered with subtle oak, vanilla, nutmeg, and cocoa. The elegantly supple palate carries dark fruit concentration with flinty mineral undertones, while tangy saline acidity sustains a refined finish.

95 points (Gold) International Wine and Spirits Competition 2026

Pinot noir sourced from the Pisa subregion, 100% destemmed, fermented in barrel then matured in French oak, 33% new. An elegant and seductive set of aromas, including pure doris plum, wild strawberry and dark cherry fruits veiled in souk-like spice. Hints of leaf litter, a wisp of struck flint, mountain thyme, pomegranate, peppercorn, nutmeg, vanillin oak, dried shiitake, whiffs of Chinese barbecue and crushed schist. There's a little more nutmeg oak on show on the palate but it just slides in with the pure fruit and the tannins. This is silty fine, with a bright mineral cadence and sense of clarity and grace as it trails off. Cracker! Drink to 2041.

95+ points Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion, April 2026

A young and compact pinot which is currently dominated by sweet vanilla oak. There is good breadth to the underlying flavours, revealing hints of white pepper and violets which sit in a higher register than the core of wild raspberry and strawberry fruit. Well-balanced with smooth tannins and fine acidity providing tension. The palate resolves with clarity and definition on the subtle and long finish. Give it another year or two in bottle to absorb the wood then enjoy it over the coming decade. Drink to 2036.

94 points Stephen Wong for The Real Review, April 2026

Complex and seductively styled, showing dark berry, tapenade, cured meat, dried mushroom, and elegant oak characters on the nose, leading to a concentrated palate offering excellent depth and expansive mouthfeel.

96 points Sam Kim for Wine Orbit, August 2025

Aromas and flavours of ripe cherry and black currant fruit, there’s fine savoury seam and spice adding complexity and depth. A light reductive quality with a flinty note along with polished tannins and medium+ acid line frame the fruit flavours well. The oak is well managed with a decent dark spices quality. Nice length and finish with best drinking from 2026 through 2031.

93 points Cameron Douglas MS

Nevis Bluff wines are single vineyard expressions of the 20-hectare L’Attitude Vineyard in the Lowburn-Pisa sub-region of Central Otago. Located on free-draining Waenga loam soils, the vineyard is certified by Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand, and specialises in Pinots Blanc, Gris and Noir. The wines are made by Matt Connell.

This Pinot Noir is named after the Holdsworth family who originally planted the vineyard. It shows a deeper, more structured side of the Nevis Bluff, built around concentration and detail. Central Otago’s fierce sunlight and freezing nights create Pinot Noir with vivid aromatics and firm structure, and this wine leans into that tension rather than softening it.