Rippon Vineyard

Tinker's Field Mature Vine Pinot Noir

9.125 ratings
9.210 pro ratings
Lake Wanaka, Otago, South Island, New Zealand
Pinot Noir
Turkey, Game, Exotic Spices, Soft Cheese, Duck, Goose, Salads & Greens, Potato, Quinoa, Farro, Brown Rice, White Rice, Pasta, Herbs, Nuts & Seeds, Mushrooms, Chicken, Meaty & Oily Fish, Shellfish, Crab & Lobster, Stew, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Salami & Prosciutto, Salmon, Quinoa, Shellfish
Top Notes For
Steve Matthiasson

Owner/Winemaker Matthiasson Wines

9.4

Gorgeous sweet fruit, lush and juicy, but with a mineral freshness lifting and balancing the wine. It's a drop dead beautiful vineyard, and the wine reflects that beauty. A wonderful entrée to a new (to me) wine region.

Gorgeous sweet fruit, lush and juicy, but with a mineral freshness lifting and balancing the wine. It's a drop dead beautiful vineyard, and the wine reflects that beauty. A wonderful entrée to a new (to me) wine region.

Apr 8th, 2016
Brent Mayeaux

Production Burn Cottage Vineyard

9.4

Tasted from magnum what is now the Tinkers Field bottling. The best example of aged Pinot Noir from Otago I've had. Whereas often I just see the remnants of toasted oak, this is layers of tertiary Pinot character supported by soft fruit and their unmistakable schist.

Tasted from magnum what is now the Tinkers Field bottling. The best example of aged Pinot Noir from Otago I've had. Whereas often I just see the remnants of toasted oak, this is layers of tertiary Pinot character supported by soft fruit and their unmistakable schist.

Mar 24th, 2016
Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.4

Lovely sweet fruit.

Lovely sweet fruit.

Mar 6th, 2016
Penny Loving

Christmas 2015 - perfect wine to celebrate a special evening w/ family and friends.

Christmas 2015 - perfect wine to celebrate a special evening w/ family and friends.

Dec 25th, 2015
Michael "Bucky" Buckelew

Sommelier Ristorante del Lago at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs

9.3

Incredible on day two

Incredible on day two

Nov 30th, 2015
Tommy Fogarty

Owner Thomas Fogarty Winery

9.4

A hundred bucks and tastes like it. Lotsa gentle funk.

A hundred bucks and tastes like it. Lotsa gentle funk.

Oct 21st, 2015
Andrew Cullimore

Medium deep ruby , wide rim with a hint of garnet . Quite serious on the nose, more mature perhaps than expected, with notes of undergrowth , ripe strawberry , red cherry , raspberry, cranberry , iris , earthy notes as well . Refined but still quite juicy on the palate , more of those red fruits, red cherry and cranberry , touch of spice, that classic star anise note does appear . Refreshing acidity and fine but noticeable tannins. Good length , with just a hint of spice and appetising bitterness, nicely balanced. This is nice to drink now though I think this will continue to improve for another 3-5 years perhaps and last well a further 5 -8

Medium deep ruby , wide rim with a hint of garnet . Quite serious on the nose, more mature perhaps than expected, with notes of undergrowth , ripe strawberry , red cherry , raspberry, cranberry , iris , earthy notes as well . Refined but still quite juicy on the palate , more of those red fruits, red cherry and cranberry , touch of spice, that classic star anise note does appear . Refreshing acidity and fine but noticeable tannins. Good length , with just a hint of spice and appetising bitterness, nicely balanced. This is nice to drink now though I think this will continue to improve for another 3-5 years perhaps and last well a further 5 -8

Jun 18th, 2023
Big Wave Dave

Very structured, backward style of pinot. Dull purple. Shy nose. Sour red cherry up front, then a wall of dusty tannin shielding plum and cedar from coming to the fore. The tannin gives incredible length. This will age and needs 5+ years to relax. With some fruit sweetness, this would be sublime.

Very structured, backward style of pinot. Dull purple. Shy nose. Sour red cherry up front, then a wall of dusty tannin shielding plum and cedar from coming to the fore. The tannin gives incredible length. This will age and needs 5+ years to relax. With some fruit sweetness, this would be sublime.

Dec 25th, 2019
Rob Moose

This is probably the most serious Pinot I had on the trip, no disrespect to the Felton bottles. My heart is kinda with Rippon, and this was a little ruthless to drink this so young, but it doesn’t export to US and I figured it was worth a roll of the dice. Opened 3 days ago and tried each day then recorked. I think oxygen has finally started to subtract after its initial age simulation contribution. But I believe in this bottle and would wish to have it in a few years and with food, instead of in a camper van in cheeky makeshift tasting moments.

This is probably the most serious Pinot I had on the trip, no disrespect to the Felton bottles. My heart is kinda with Rippon, and this was a little ruthless to drink this so young, but it doesn’t export to US and I figured it was worth a roll of the dice. Opened 3 days ago and tried each day then recorked. I think oxygen has finally started to subtract after its initial age simulation contribution. But I believe in this bottle and would wish to have it in a few years and with food, instead of in a camper van in cheeky makeshift tasting moments.

May 23rd, 2019
Big Wave Dave

Big, quiet power. Savoury, spicy but still quite austere and backward. Will improve for 10 yrs+ and perhaps up to 20.

Big, quiet power. Savoury, spicy but still quite austere and backward. Will improve for 10 yrs+ and perhaps up to 20.

Jan 8th, 2019