Burn Cottage Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir Central Otago New Zealand 2019

There are few wine regions in the world quite as striking as Central Otago, New Zealand. Snowcapped mountains decorate a 360° view, and there are rushing rivers and canyons aplenty. It’s a dramatic landscape, wild and untamed, apart from the neat rows of vineyards that dot the occasional hillside. Central Otago is not only the southernmost wine region in New Zealand, but it is also the southernmost wine region in the world! At a latitude of 45° south, the only other vineyards that are comparable are experimental plantings in South America’s Patagonia. Central Otago’s wines, and in particular the region’s Pinot Noir, have begun to garner some serious attention in the global market, largely due to its unique climate and soil sets. Central Otago is the only growing region in New Zealand that experiences a continental climate, with drastic seasonal swings in temperature. Summers are hot and relatively dry, and winters are cold, with frequent heavy frosts and snowfall. The severe drop in temperature from morning to evening, in general, ensures that the fruit retains its acidic backbone. 

The austere nature of Central Otago drew the attention of Ted Lemon, famed proprietor and winemaker of Littorai. His biodynamic estate in Sebastopol, CA is lauded for its terroir-driven Pinots, and Ted’s authority on cutting-edge farming practices have earned him cult-like status within the industry. When the Sauvage family first purchased the Burn Cottage Vineyard in 2002, they brought on Ted as their consulting winemaker. Ted implemented biodynamic practices from the onset, which was wildly outside of the box for New Zealand. Despite the country’s overwhelming agrarian lifestyle, at that time there was not one vineyard practicing biodynamics. But the Sauvage family eagerly took on the challenge, and today there is 20 hectares of land devoted to creating an enclosed farm system. During vineyard development the greatest care was taken to separate blocks according to soil, aspect and exposure differences. Clones and rootstocks were chosen with the philosophy that the more diversity each block had, the more complexity the resulting wines would display. Hence, the vineyard has a variety of clones of Pinot Noir planted on a variety of rootstocks – genius! 

This estate Pinot Noir opens with bright, lifted red fruit notes that are complemented by darker savory tones like chocolate and blood orange. The palate is focused throughout by a mineral freshness and energy, and supported by lovely acidity and fine, textural tannins. Though it is drinking beautifully now, this wine would certainly gain complexity given a few years of rest in your cellar.