2018 Quartz Reef Pinot Noir 750ml

It is now well established that Central Otago produces outstanding Pinot Noir and Quartz Reef is no exception. Firm and intense with notes of ripe black cherry, pomegranate and spice, the maturing sun drenched slopes of our Bendigo Estate vineyard continues to produce Pinot Noir of exceptional expression and structure.

• TOP 100 WINES OF NEW ZEALAND 2021

  94 Points
  Always intense and ripe, this has a mix of red-cherry, dark-cherry, currant and black-tea aromas with a dusting of spice and earthy, sappy aromas, as well as violets. The palate has a super fresh, layered and succulent feel with such juicy, soft and supple tannins, wrapped into a smooth framework. Vibrant finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

  jamessuckling.com, 25 November, 2021

• BOB CAMPBELL

  93 Points
  Reasonably light in colour but certainly not lacking power, with dark cherry, violet, blackcurrant and spicy oak flavours supported by bright acidity and peppery tannins. A youthful wine that would benefit from bottle age.

  The Real Review, 22 May, 2020

APPEARANCE Divine ruby red in colour.

AROMA Aromas of raspberry and cherry.

PALATE Rich on the palate with cherry, blackcurrant and subtle spice. An elegant wine with bright acidity, fine tannins and a long, vibrant finish.

VINIFICATION

Hand-picked on the 8th, 12th and 15th March. Each clone was small batch vinified with a small percentage of whole cluster per ferment. Cold Soaked for up to 7 days before indigenous yeast fermentation kicked in. Gentle plunging each day, followed by post maceration of up to 9 days to ensure optimum fruit and tannin balance. Total time on skin; 21 days. Drained directly into selected French oak barriques (25% new) where the wine aged for 12 months during which wild malolactic fermentation occurs. The winemaking was very much in keeping with the traditional practices of the Old World. The winemaker, Rudi Bauer, has combined these techniques, and his own personal understanding, to create this wine.