Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir 2020

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.

Notes from the winery about this vintage: “A loveable rebel. This Home Block Moutere Pinot Noir offers more than meets the eye, although from a dry hot summer, this Noir retains a refreshing characteristic. Classically rich with dark chocolate notes, layered with coffee, cigar smoke and soft, old leather. Something of a prohibition bar in the 20’s. But there is an elegance here that is truly graceful, a balance of dark fruit, fine tannin and subtle oak.

“For such a refined wine, you can rebel it up with food… dark enough for BBQ’d venison, earthy enough for wild mushrooms, intelligent enough to have on its own, in the cool of the evening, next to a roaring fire. Cellar with absolute confidence.”

95 Points, Five Stars. Bob Campbell MW, NZ “Intense pinot noir with a mix of fruit and savoury characters including raspberry, dark cherry, dried herb, grape stem, hedgerow and nutty oak flavours. Accessible now but with potential to gain even more complexity with bottle age.”

93 points, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front “Meaty, gamey, dark cherry-loaded pinot noir but soft, supple and with satiny flow. Has some nice concentration but feels fresh and floaty, a little malty detail in tannin and seasoning does good for added extras. It’s a fragrant, lush and lovely wine. Very true to region, but elevating, per se. A very good release.”