Scott Kahn

9.2

This was a generous gift from a friend who visited the winery and raved about out the wine - I can see why! Very fresh presentations of red fruit that is ripe and not jammy - perfect timing of the harvest! The brightness of the fruit suggests some whole cluster but there are additional layers to this wine. Definite floral hints on the palate, minerality and M tannins that will soften with age. All in all a wonderful representation of Pinot and of central otago. — 5 months ago

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Dull ruby. Complex red fruit and oak spice on the nose does not hint at the depths of serious savoury bite and structure on the palate. Intense, tightly packed sour dark cherry, smoky mineral notes. Real energy and power. Reminds me of Rippon. The tannins are present but at one with the savoury oak. This is serious stuff, and would only improve from here. Estate bottling is a great wine but this is up there with the best I have had from NZ (and I’ve had a bit!) Fill your boots!! — 4 years ago

with Racquel

Ricardo Bohn Goncalves

9.3

Adi Ago21 — 5 years ago

Romain Stamm

9.0

With @Clement Leroux - the complexity of the Faiveley outperformed the rippon. Higher acidity but younger, intense blackberry and raspberries, light leather notes and hints of vanilla. I want more! — 8 years ago

with Clement

Brent Mayeaux

Production Burn Cottage Vineyard

9.1

Really pretty, high quality, fruit. Cherry and cranberry. A medley of non-fruit in the background waiting to come forward, but I didn't spend enough time with it. Just a mouthful without being heavy. Very soft, powdery, tannins. This will be a beauty in a few years. — 10 years ago

Brent Mayeaux

Production Burn Cottage Vineyard

9.1

So vibrant and energetic. Dark fruit, herbs, and dirt. A bit of co2 spritz which in addition to the acid makes it incredibly refreshing. — 10 years ago

Penny Loving

9.3

Saved this Magnum for a special evening. It lived up to all expectations...perfect balance, light, dry, with hints of honey. So glad we waited, so sorry it is gone. — 11 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

This was rich and delicious. It was fair enough for Suckling to pose the question “Is this the best NZ Pinot so far”? Ticks all the requisite boxes - ripe red and black fruits, a creamy texture, a nice garrigue herbal note. This Pinot lives up to the gorgeous site - one of the most awesome views you will see from the top of the vineyard over Lake Wanaka. Most impressive. — 5 months ago

Sally Rose McCormack

9.1

Bought in Wanaka, best wine out of all the ones during the wine tasting. Delicious!!

Saved the bottle and drank 4 years later, was a little tangy. We probably left it too long. Still really nice though! — 4 years ago

Big Wave Dave

9.2

This is structured, backward, and serious. Not even close to ready - reminds me of Rippon in structure. Core of savoury red fruit is shrouded in acid and tannin at present, but balance and integration speak to a great wine in the making. Good in 5 yrs, better in 10. — 5 years ago

Big Wave Dave

8.9

The most mineral and least fruit driven Sauv Blanc tasted. Citrus and mineral dominate, with a bit of austere depth. Even more mineral than Sancerre — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

On the nose, the fruits have a creamy cola quality. Black cherries, cherries, haunting blue fruits, strawberries, pomegranate, cranberries with red & pink roses and violets. The reserve is much more textured and lush than the two other Pinot's we tasted. The fruits on the palate match the nose. Heavier; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanilla. Crushed rocks, dark soils, red roses & red flowers, black cherry cola, leathery, very good chalkiness & round acidity. The even finish is thicker, richer and more elegant with lifting spices that lingers on the palate. I couldn't resist using this photo I received of the view from "Rippon Estate" in the sunshine. The fog was still in during our morning visit. Additional photos of inside the "Gibbston Valley" Cellar Door. — 9 years ago

Eric Hwang

9.2

Not a typical Gewürtz. More like a perfumed Riesling with an added spice component. — 10 years ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Quite light ruby garnet , wide garnet rim . On the nose this shows red currant , wild strawberry , dry spice , dried rose , herbal touches and tangerine peel . The palate is quite elegant with wild strawberry , red currant and those fresh herbal hints , with just a touch of bitterness . Fresh acidity , and slightly gritty tannins . Quite refreshing with good length and balance, that touch of bitterness doesn’t detract from the rest of wine. This is quite linear and focused, perhaps slightly strict , uncompromising in style , but probably has a few years left in the cellar and might improve over the next 2-3 years and last well a further 5 or so. — 8 months ago

Big Wave Dave

9.3

Serious and such a pure expression of site and terroir. Only pinot I’ve had from Wanaka sub-region of Central Otago is Rippon, and I can taste the similarity. Pure strawberry and red cherry cream. With an austere cool climate sourness that is not unpleasant. Good mid palate weight. Silky but chewy. Very very good. — 4 years ago

with Racquel

Big Wave Dave

9.4

Fabulous expression of Gibbston restrained power. More approachable than Gibbston School House or Rippon. Sweeter and what they may become in 8 yrs. Dark inky ruby. Rich, sweet, full bodied with full spectrum of dark fruit. Very expressive. A tad over-extracted. Fruit and dark spice. Deep and serious but also round and generous. Yum! — 7 years ago

with Rocket

Steve S

9.1

Dinner with the Mills’! — 8 years ago

Rocket Rod

9.0

Classic cold climate Pinot. Deep red. Fruit forward but enough balance and structure to make it interesting. Well balanced acidity. Great wine — 10 years ago

with John

Brent Mayeaux

Production Burn Cottage Vineyard

9.1

Blind. I called Central Otago Pinot almost immediately. It exuded it. The color/structure/concentration. It wasn't as clean/stripped as many are though and had some faint natural wine traits as well as some emerging mature wine character(showing smoke/mocha, dirt/hummus/mushrooms). I thought it was possibly Rippon from a ripe vintage since the tannin structure seemed familiar.

First vintage of Pinot for Sato. He was figuring things out and picks earlier now(this was 14% alc) and gets a but less oak extraction. For fans of the typical Otago Pinot, this will be a treat. — 10 years ago

Michael "Bucky" Buckelew

Sommelier Ristorante del Lago at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs

9.2

Schist happens — 11 years ago