Description
Tasting Notes
Brooding, thoughtful, dark and intriguing aromatically, whilst bold the underlying core is elegant, fragrant and fresh. A gorgeous expression of this idyllic Bannockburn vineyard.
About the Wine
“We grow our premium Two Paddocks Pinot Noir entirely on our four small vineyards in Central Otago. In some exceptional vintages, listening carefully, we realise that one of these sites may have something extraordinary to say in its own right. It is only then that we will make one of these very rare single vineyard wines.” – Sam Neill, Proprietor
The Fusilier Vineyard is named in honor of Sam’s father, Major Dermot Neill, a soldier in the Royal Irish Fusilier Regiment for twenty years before returning home to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he ran the family Wine & Spirit business, Neill & Co. Planted entirely in 2000, The Fusilier is 5.6 hectares of pinot noir, on rolling northerly facing terraces at the western end of Felton Rd and bordered by the vineyard of the same name. Soils on the terraces consist of deep alluvial fans, which are made up of varying depths of silt, sand and gravel layering all derived from mountainous raw schist parent material.
LIMITED QUANTITIES: TWO BOTTLE MAXIMUM PURCHASE
Vintage Comments
Vintage 2021 was characterised by climatic variation extremes throughout spring and early summer and then developing into a fantastic finish, with a long stable mid-summer / autumn warm period, right up to and over harvest. At the start of the season, a cold winter continued into a dry warm spring with steady vine shoot growth.
The grapes flowered over Dec 2020, which was warmer than last year but with intermittent rain that resulted in only half the vineyard blocks achieving desired crop loads. The first week of January saw a significant rain event and that set the vineyards up with optimum soil moisture levels for the rest of the season. There was some typical early and late in the season frost fighting, but the vine canopies stayed resilient and green with harvest staring a week earlier than typical on the 30th of March and finishing on the 22nd April.
WINE MAKERS NOTE: Picked on the 31st of March 2021. Three different fermentations from the single vineyard Fusilier in Bannockburn. Clonal selection is 14% clone 10/5, 16% clone 667 and 75% clone 115. Total whole bunch component is 58%. Initial cold soak at 8 degrees Celsius for 5 days. Average fermentation time of 23 days, hand plunged no more than once a day with an indigenous yeast to start fermentation which peaked at 33 degrees Celsius. Lightly pressed and settled, then racked to barrel (French barrique), 29% new wood, for an average of 11 months.
PH Level 3.51
Total Acidity 5.8g/l
Alcohol 13.5%
Bottled February 2022
Cellaring 2023 – 2032
Winemaker Dean Shaw
Viticulturist Mike Wing
Total Production 300 cases
Reviews & Awards
Huon Hooke, The Real ReviewSeptember 2024
95 Points
Impressively deep, rich purple-red colour; the bouquet is highly detailed, strong on roasted meats and smoky charcuterie, char-oak and dark cherry; there is lovely sweet succulent fruit in the core and then a wave of firm, grippy tannins sweeps in. It’s a wine of serious depths and assertive character, which deserves to be given a little time as well as a hearty protein dish for company. Drinking 2025 – 2038
Susy Atkins, DecanterJune 2024
94 Points
From the north-facing terraces at the western end of Felton Road, Bannockburn. Along with dried red cherries and cooked strawberries, there are subtle, exotic notes of rose petals and Turkish delight. This is a savoury, spicy Pinot. Tannins are evident but supple. Wood spice on the finish.
NZ Organic Wine Awards June 2024
SILVER
Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review January 2024
GOLD95 Points
Dense, cassis, dark berries, dark chocolate, dark cherry, wood smoke and spicy oak flavours with a firm but accessible structure that promises to reward anyone who looks after the wine in temperature-controlled conditions. Drinking 2023-2032
James Suckling January 2024
96 Points
Aromas of black cherries, kola nuts and lavender followed by dried herbs and orange zest with underlying potting soil notes. Mushrooms. Some gun metal. Medium-bodied, firm tannins and vivid acidity. Beautifully polished and delightful wine with great balance. From organically grown grapes. Give it time to open. Better after 2025. Screw cap.
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