Neudorf Home Block Moutere Pinot Noir 2022

The pristine and spectacularly beautiful Nelson region in the south island of NZ and in particular the Clay Gravel Moutere Hills area receive lots of sun (more than 2300 hours a year) making it one of New Zealand’s sunniest regions a real bonus for such a cool climate region. Clear skies allow for rapid cooling at night, nurturing the slow development of flavours and a gradual reduction in fruit acids. This combination of climate and soil type produces white wines of concentration and texture, and rich savoury Pinot Noir with a fingerprint of textured minerally fruit acid.

Established in 1978 by Tim and Judy Finn, Neudorf use sustainable practices and the winery is accredited under the Sustainable Winery NZ scheme, which Tim was instrumental in establishing back in the early 80’s.   Winemaker Todd Stevens aim is always to allow the site to speak.  Great wines have a basis of fruit concentration, length and sense of place – characters which can be formed only in the vineyard.

About this wine from the winemaker: “Nelson lends itself to sophisticated, savoury Pinot Noir. Pinot for cool nights and roaring fires, leather couches and interesting conversation. This is a gentle and graceful Pinot. Vanilla, violets and pink peppercorns are woven together with notes of pomegranate, blueberries and soft acidity. Fine, cocoa-like tannins tie this wine together with elegance and purity. There are seductive, brooding, earthy, visceral nuances throughout this Moutere Pinot. It’s Autumnal and crunchy which keeps it refreshing and restrained.”

Moutere clay gravels (clay loam, with small pebbles in upper horizon), 60m elevation, north facing.

“A wet start to the season followed by a dry, albeit warm spring and summer. February rains provided a challenge close to harvest, but a dry picking window allowed for disease pressures to be managed. A season producing wines of elegance, rather svelte in stature, and approachable. 100% French oak – 20% new. 10 months in oak then racked and blended. Fruit chilled, sorted and destemmed. Hand plunged, twice daily. 100% wile yeast ferment in open-top vessel with peak temperature of 32°C. 100% natural malolactic fermantion in the spring.

“Vanilla, violets and pink peppercorns are woven together with notes of pomegranate, blueberries and soft acidity. Fine, cocoa-like tannins tie this wine together with elegance and purity. There are seductive, brooding, earthy, visceral nuances throughout this Moutere Pinot. It’s Autumnal and crunchy which keeps it refreshing and restrained.”

95 points, Cam Douglas MS “The echo of place and time, soil and tradition are instantly recognisable with this fine example. Aromas of red apple skin and cherry, wild flowers and red berries, a touch of earth smoke then gentle spice of oak deliver complexity and charm without compromising variety and delicacy. Dry, taut, textured and delicious, a wine that needs time to open and develop in glass showcasing fine chalky tannins, lees a nd spice qualities, mid palate core of fruit and a complex, yet youthful finish. A wine for the cellar with best window for drinking likely from 2027 through 2037.”

95 points, Stephen Wong, The Real Review “Mid-ruby. Unfurling nose: floral with an amalgam of red and black fruits, lightly peppery with layered interest from oak and bouquet garni herbs.The palate starts elegant and flows across the grainy tannins which cose in on the dry and grippy finish. Oriental market and seed spice flavours develop on the back. This needs more time to settle, but the structure will likely remain dominant over the mid-weight fruit. Still, an elegant and classy pinot noir which is well worth cellaring.”