Product Information:
The 2022 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir embodies the unique terroir of Central Otago with complexity and elegance. This wine is a harmonious blend of dark cherry, floral notes, and earthy, mineral tones, which create a captivating and layered experience. With careful vineyard management and a meticulous winemaking process, the 2022 vintage offers a striking balance of vibrant fruit, refined tannins, and expressive depth. The wine’s subtle oak influence and fine acidity contribute to its exceptional structure, ensuring that it will age beautifully for 10-12 years.
Maker:
Marquis Savage, a Chicago wine importer, discovered the enchanting allure of Central Otago during what was intended to be a brief tour of the region. Captivated by its unique charm and potential, he seized the opportunity to acquire 24 hectares in the Cromwell basin. These vineyards were meticulously planted with clones tailored to the specific soil types, all while adhering to biodynamic principles.
To ensure the success of this venture, Savage enlisted the expertise of Ted Lemon from Littorai, a seasoned veteran with over three decades of experience in terroir-driven winegrowing, spanning Burgundy, California, and Oregon. This collaboration laid a strong foundation for the vineyards.
At the helm of winemaking is Claire Mullholland, a born-and-bred talent of Central Otago. Previously associated with Martinborough Vineyards and Amisfield, Claire has a keen ability to unlock the bright, lively, and profound potential of these vineyards year after year. Her journey began after university, where she honed her skills in the pioneering vineyards of the region, including Rippon, Chard Farm, and Gibbston Valley. Claire’s international experience further enriched her winemaking prowess, as she ventured abroad to deepen her understanding of Pinot Noir in renowned locations such as Australia, Oregon, and Burgundy. Notably, she worked at prestigious estates like Domaine De L’Arlot and Domaine Dujac in Burgundy’s Cote de Nuit. Her significant contributions to New Zealand wine include leadership roles as head winemaker at Martinborough Vineyard and Amisfield, before she joined Burn Cottage Vineyard.
Vineyard:
In its early stages, 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 diversity of clones of Pinot Noir planted on a variety of rootstocks. The first blocks were planted in 2003. The vineyard development has continued at a loving and deliberate pace to ensure that only the best plant material has been used. As well as Pinot Noir, there is a small amount of Gruner Veltliner and Riesling planted. The Pinot is planted on north and north east facing slopes and the Riesling and Gruner are planted on an east facing slope at the top of the property. The Gruner Veltliner planting is from the first generation of this variety released in New Zealand.
Burn Cottage vineyard has 10 hectares of vines on 24 hectares of land devoted to creating an enclosed and biodynamic farm system. The Highland Cattle provides integrated grazing of pastures and supply manure for integral compost programs. They also keep bees and have planted an olive grove to produce olive oil in the future. At Burn Cottage biodiversity is the corner stone of healthy farming, thus native species of New Zealand plants, bushes and trees have also been planted to restore native habitats. The energetic and crystalline wines the site produces stand as palpable evidence of their success.
Tasting Notes:
NOSE:
Perfumed & Elegant
Aromas of dark cherries, violets, and fresh florals, complemented by earthy tones of flint and a hint of tobacco.
PALATE
Complex & Balanced
A supple, layered palate featuring red fruit notes of cherry, strawberry, and red apple, interwoven with subtle tobacco, graphite, and white tea. The acidity and fine tannins create a lively yet refined texture.
FINISH
Lingering & Elegant
The finish is fresh, long, and mineral-driven, with a promise of further complexity as the wine matures.
Reviews + Accolades:
The 2022 Burn Cottage Vineyard Pinot Noir is light and fine, with a delicate array of cherry, strawberry, red apple and freshly pressed linen notes. Woven throughout is sweet tobacco, graphite, white tea and finely ground pink peppercorns. In the mouth, the acidity works with the tannins to penetrate the palate with flavour, and it has an ethereal quality to it, which marks it as distinctly different from the Sauvage Pinot Noir. This is an eminently pretty Pinot Noir and comes highly recommended. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under natural cork. - Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate, 95 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - New Zealand
Region - Central Otago
Vintage - 2022
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13.5%
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