Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2021

Vintage notes
The 2020-2021 growing season had a relatively warm, dry spring with some late November frosts to fight, followed by good weather at flowering resulting in excellent yields in the Cromwell Basin. Some rain events over the Christmas holidays kept us on our toes but autumn returned to warm temperatures allowing consistent ripening. The weather stabilised in February and remained relatively warm and dry all the way through harvest in April, leading to idyllic conditions. The combination of challenging and favourable periods resulted in a Pinot Noir with intense colour and a highly concentrated core.

Wine making notes
Our 2021 Pinot Noir is a Central Otago blend that represents the best attributes of the selected vineyards and of course, the 2021 season. The fruit was hand-harvested at optimal ripeness with harvest dates ranging from late March to late April 2021. Several different ferments went into the blend ranging from 0-50% whole bunches per fermenter with the resulting blend having around 18% whole clusters, which aids the tannin structure and aromatics of the wine. The total time on skins ranges from 20-28 days. The wine was aged in fine-grain French oak barrels: 24% new, 30% 1-year-old and the balance was 2-5 years old for approximately 12 months. Our winemaker, Jen Parr, selected fruit from exceptional Central Otago vineyards in Bendigo, Bannockburn and Pisa showcasing the high quality of the season.

This wine is vegan.

Alcohol: 13.5%
PH: 3.62
T.A: 5.72
Residual Sugar: dry

Awards and reviews

Gold Medal, 96 points – Decanter World Wine Awards (June 2023)
“Generously laden with dark plums, blackcurrant, raspberry and earthy spice, with a searing youthful backbone of acidity and fine grained, textured tannins. Intriguing and immersive”.

Gold Medal – NZ International Wine Show (Oct 2022)

Gold medal – Aotearoa Regional Wine Competition (Sept 2022)

5 stars, 95 points- Sam Kim, Wine Orbit
“It’s gorgeously styled and expressed with sweet cherry, violet, olive and roasted nut characters with a hint of warm mushroom nuance. The palate delivers outstanding concentration and fine flow, wonderfully complemented by silky texture and supple tannins. Splendidly charming and graceful with a persistent refined finish. At its best: now to 2033″. Aug 2022

18.5/20 – Joelle Thomson
“Jen Parr makes Wild Earth Pinot Noirs for owner Quintin Quider, a Pinot devotee who sources grapes  from vineyards in Bannockburn, Pisa and Bendigo for this silky, smooth, fresh new Pinot Noir. A portion of whole bunch fermentation adds firm elegant tannin structure to this wine, providing backbone with balance and lifting aromas of red and dark cherry notes into a gorgeously drinkable, subtly spicy young Pinot Noir with very good ageing potential for five to six years. It’s a medium bodied, dry style with lightness in the mid palate”. Aug 2022

97 pts, Top 5 Finalist Pinot Noir of the Year 2022– Winestate Magazine (Michael Cooper)
“Already enjoyable, but well worth cellaring, this regional blend of Bendigo, Bannockburn and Pisa grapes was hand-picked and matured in French oak barrels (24% new).  Deep, bright ruby, it is mouthfilling, savoury and supple, with generous cherry, plum, spice and nut flavours, showing very good complexity, fresh acidity and great drinkability”. July 2022

94 points, excellent- Cameron Douglas MS
“WOW – what a great bouquet – very earthy with a smoky soil quality, there’s a rich core of fruit with dried raspberry and plum, some black currant then aromas of wood spices and a fine dried herb savoury quality. Dry and delicious on the palate with flavours that mirror the bouquet. Ripe fine tannins layer in mouthfeel and acidity adds freshness and purity. Delicious, fresh, dry, varietal and lengthy, a wine for drinking from 2023 through 2030+”, Aug 2022

5 stars, 93 points, excellent – NZ Wine Rater
“Very fragrant, ethereal, herb-infused bouquet with aromas of macerated black cherry, ripe berries, crushed thyme, wild mushrooms, cinnamon and smoky oak – all very appealing. In contrast to the dramatic nose the palate is quite elegant, supple and silky with a core of spicy cherry flavour, sappy tannins and nice freshness”. Oct 2022

5 stars, 18.5/20,  93 pts – Candice Chow – Raymond Chan Wine Reviews:
“Deep, bright ruby-red, slightly lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full, with youthful aromas of dark cherry and strawberry entwined with herb, earth and a smoky layer. Medium-bodied, dark cherry and strawberry aromas have a taut core, unfolding raspberry, cinnamon, thyme and a hint of smoke. Lively acidity compliments the sweet fruit; fine structure of supple tannin leaves a silky mouthfeel. This youthful Pinot Noir possesses a range of succulent fruit with spice and herb on a silky tannin mouthfeel. Match with grilled lamb and crispy pork belly over the next 4-5 years. Handpicked, 0-50% whole bunch, average around 18% whole clusters, fermented to 13.5% alc, time on skins ranging from 20-28 days. Aged in French oak for approx 12 months, 24% new oak, 30% 1-year-old and the balance in 2-5-year-old barriques. 18.5/20 pts (93 pts)” Aug 2022

4 stars – Cuisine Magazine 
“Medium coloured with dark cherries, sweet cola, herbs and an umami savouriness on the nose. The palate has a fantastic mouthfeel and the fruit aromas are spiked with spicy toasty oak.  Slippery ripe chewy tannins give the wine a volume lift on the midpalate”. Apr 2023