Ely Cohn

8.9

Aint this an unexpected pretty thing.

Chewy, dense, purple goop - fudgey with syrah like outlines -mencia bones - mix of reds and whites making up remaining 8%.

Lavender, pepper, tar, and blackberry.

Slurp. — 5 months ago

Willie Carter

9.6

Youthful but exuberant and already showing itself to be special. An aesthetically pleasing light golden hue with effusive tiny bubbles. Really fun aromas of oak and mint with cigar smoke and a dab of honey. It honestly just keeps getting better and better. Cherries and lychee with plums and dried herbs. This is already off to a good start.

Everything from this house is fantastic year in and year out. Mostly Grand Cru Pinot from Bouzy, this has a bit of Chardonnay added in. Energetic and lively with terrific structure. This has the bones to be super in the future. Based on the glorious year of 2012, it’s already a great wine.

Elegance and explosiveness in the mouth. Purity and freshness for days. A citrus attack to start off with followed by red fruits. Biscuits and cigars on the long, lusty finish. If you’re familiar with Bara champagnes you probably already have this tucked safely away and if you’re not, you should be. — a year ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Earthy aromas with ripe plum notes - a very Otago nose albeit in the lighter spectrum. Same notes transfer to the medium bodied sappy palate. Not as full bodied as I was expecting. Quite Burgundian in weight and texture. Made by the equally earthy Nick Mills, owner and winemaker who made his presentation at Pinot NZ 2018 in Wellington in bare feet. Rippon is biodynamic and chemical free. I subsequently had a nice chat with him - a genuine bloke. Must be one of the prettiest vineyard scenes anywhere in the world sloping up from Lake Wanaka. Whilst this is classed as Central Otago this is not as full bodied as the Bannockburn/Felton Road district. — 4 years ago

Jocholla

9.5

Perfect balance of berry and savory spices, expected it to be bigger but that’s ok. Well balanced. Wonderful Halloween wine. — 6 months ago

Mark Rosse

9.4

Located in Tupungato region at 4757 feet elevation. White stones from an ancient river bed. Beautiful wine. — 9 months ago

Vino Joe

9.2

Muted and overly subdued. Bones are there. I wanted to to try it but will let the other bottles sit longer. — 3 years ago

Keaton Kail

9.4

Happily malted citrus peel. — 4 years ago

Chris Radbone

9.1

Delightful nose with depth and flavour that you won't be disappointed. — 7 months ago

Vino Joe

9.3

Way too early. I have a few 375mL bottles and was curious to learn how a wine like this might be even though it was well before it’s suggested drinking window. The bones and structure are evident and this should grow into a monster. It was still a very pleasant wine it was just holding back the whole time. Unfocused fruit and a bit too sweet but I think this score will be significantly higher for round 2. — 7 months ago

Ellen Clifford

9.0

One of those wines that makes you say “huh, so that’s why they blend Sémillon with Sauvignon Blanc”. Although the Sémillon makes up slightly more of the blend the greenery of SB punches throughout not obnoxiously so. Like the Semi was holding out the plank of wood expressly for the purpose of SB breaking it in half with its bare hands. All the green things and citrus but there is depth and warmth and a bit of weight. And dang it’s a bargain. — 3 years ago