97 points, Sam Kim

Wonderfully fruited and enticing, the bouquet shows dark plum, smoked game, tapenade, porcini, and roasted nut aromas. The concentrated palate delivers plump mouthfeel and velvety texture, splendidly framed by seamlessly woven tannins, making it opulent with grace and poise. At its best: now to 2037.

96 Points,  Raymond Chan

Light ruby-red with a tinge of garnet, slightly lighter on the rim. It has a lifted, rich bouquet with aromas of plum, cherry, mulberry, rose, spice, and undergrowth. Medium-bodied, with aromas of plum and mulberry entwined with black cherry, unveiling rose, forest floor, cinnamon, and nutmeg. There's depth to the flavour, supported by enlivening acidity, rippling on a linear, enticing flow. Silky, refined tannins provide structure and layer, lending a lengthy, graceful finish. This Pinot Noir is elegant and graceful yet powerful and precise. Match with stuffed pigeon and duck breast over the next 10+ years. Handpicked, clones 667, 777 predominant, fermented to 14.39% alc. 19+/20 pts (96 pts) Apr 2025.

96 Points, Candice Chow

Rich aromas of plum, mulberry, black cherry, rose, forest floor, cinnamon and nutmeg. Dijon clones 667 and 777 predominant, exhibiting richness and depth of savoury layers over seductive fruit and rose, adorning a silky tannin structure and an enticing acidity, carrying a lengthy, graceful finish.

95 Points, Cameron Douglas

Ripe and pure fruited with a core of red berry fruits and limestone soil scents. As the wine opens out in the glass, the earthy signature increases. Aromas of fine oak barrels and concentration of fruit show that this wine is youthful and highly energised. Dry, taut, and youthful squeeze on the palate, with flavours of cherry and raspberry, along with a strawberry compote note, then clay and limestone, oak spice, and focus. An abundance of fine tannins and a backbone of acidity frame the palate nicely. Lengthy and well-made, with the best drinking from 2029 through 2035+.

95 points, Stephen Wong

Floral and sweet; clouds of perfumed nutty, vanilla oak surround the rotating cast of dark cherry, plum and raspberry. A soft, plush, primary anise-spiced berry confit forms the core of this crystalline, pretty pinot noir. Not a blockbuster and no more than mid-weight, the pure and precise fruit is framed by light, powdery tannins before giving way to milk chocolate and spice. It can be approached now for charming delicacy but most of its intrigue will remain hidden, and it will need several years before it reveals its innate complexity. Best drinking 2025–2039

96 points, Sam Kim

The bouquet is alluring and inviting with wild strawberry, sweet cherry, thyme, clove, and nutmeg aromas, followed by a silky-smooth palate that's juicy and finely flowing. Wonderfully composed and styled with refinement and harmony, leading to a persistent, velvety finish. At its best: now to 2035.

95 points, Raymond Chan

Light ruby-red, even colour throughout. The nose is lifted, with aromas of cherry plum, red date, raspberry, sweet floral and delicate spice. Medium-bodied, aromas of red cherry and raspberry intertwined with plum, vanilla, hibiscus, rose, cinnamon and earth. The wine is delicate and appealing; lacy, engaging acidity flows effortlessly, binding the red fruit core with floral, earth and gentle spices. Supple, dusty tannins lightly coat the palate and unfold spices. This Waitaki Pinot Noir is lifted and ethereal, with an enlivening and haunting closing. Match with roasted quail and pigeon over the next 10 years. Handpicked, clones 115, 667, 777, UCD6 and Abel. Fermented to 14.24% alc. 19/20 pts (95 pts) Apr 2025.

94 points, Cameron Douglas

Ripe and varietal, fruity and very new. Aroma of raspberry and cherry, plum and strawberry. A fine seam of limestone and clay soil woven through scents of barrel add complexity and intrigue. Taut, dry, fruity, and complex, a wine with an abundance of fine needle-point tannins and a backbone of acidity. Core fruit flavours mirror the bouquet. Plush, ripe, fruity, and vibrant with a lengthy and youthful finish. Best drinking from 2028 through 2034+.

94 points, Stephen Wong

Polished blackberry, violet and plum with floral notes, a seasoning of chocolaty oak and spicy, savoury complexity which unfurls in layers. The palate is tapered with fine tannin and tight acidity creating length for the youthful, backward flavours. Some charry savouriness and oak does creep in towards the back but on balance, the wine is sleek and compact, packed with black fruit and a persistent, evolving finish. It will evolve in the cellar for a decade at least. Best drinking 2026–2037

97 points, Sam Kim

“Seductive and immensely complex, the enticing bouquet shows dark berry, dried porcini, warm spice and cedar characters. The palate exhibits outstanding concentration and depth, gracefully framed by rich texture and beautifully melded tannins. Plush and seamless with an impressively long, expansive finish. At its best: now to 2036.”

96 points, International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2025

• Gold Medal

• Best New Zealand Red Wine

• Best New Zealand Pinot Noir

• Best North Otago Pinot Noir

"This is a stunning wine from an isolated area in the far south of New Zealand's South Island. Wonderfully lush texture fills the mouth and the wine has a meaty savouriness to go with it's black cherry and dark plum fruit and a perfume like the rising sap of Springtime."

 96 points, Cameron Douglas 

“Complex, pure and enticing bouquet of mineral chalky soils and ripe fruits of dried raspberry and dark cherry, boysenberry and soft dried herbs suggesting sage and thyme. The use of oak is specific and precise with scents of mostly new barrel with some older. As the wine touches the palate the flavours of oak strike first then give way to the core fruit and mineral flavours from the bouquet then dried herb and savoury complexities. There’s a tautness to the palate with an abundance of polished tannins and barrel spice, plenty of acidity and a complex finish. A wine for the cellar with best drinking likely from 2028 through 2038+.” 

95 points, Bob Campbell 

“Dense, intense pinot noir with cherry/berry, spicy/smoky oak, cassis, and a lingering fruity finish. Tight, compact wine with pleasing layers and a taut structure that shows exciting bottle maturation potential. Drink now – 2031” 

98 points, FWD Tasting Panel

"Super soft, supple and silky in the mouth, this is a Pinot of amazing beauty, concentration and length, that builds in stature the longer you savour each mouthful. The abundant mix of black fruits and exotic spices captivate. The fine toast oak and elegant savoury & saline thread all add to the intrigue of this Chambolle-Musigny like Waitaki Pinot Noir. So approachable in its youth, it will continue to become more savoury and captivating through 2031-2035. Generously proportioned with black fruit, Damson plum & Bing cherry at the core, seasoned with perfumed clove, anise & black pepper underpinned by intriguing savoury & saline characters. The oak is fine and subtly toasty, beautifully integrated into the bouquet. In the mouth it’s deceptively full bodied, showing density & concentration of those beautiful fruits & spices within a structural framework of fine, supple tannins & lacy acidity which flow through the wine in a graceful line with length & poise. Enjoy now (with a light decant) and savour its complex and beguiling evolution through 2035."

95 points, Candice Chow 

“Deep crimson with a hint of purple, lighter on the rim. The bouquet is captivating, with sweet and delicate aromas of cherry, raspberry, floral, herb and savoury attributes. Medium-bodied, aromas of Morello cherry and raspberry entwined with cherry blossom, cinnamon, thyme, hibiscus tea and black pepper. A chalky mineral texture coats the palate along with silky tannins braided with lacy acidity, carrying a refined, extended, mesmerising finish. Match with duck breast and suckling pig over the next 10 years. Clones 115, 667, 777, UCD6 and Abel, handpicked, fermented to 13.5% alc, aged 15 months in Burgundy barrels, 20% new oak.”

18.5/20, Richard Hemming 

"This is one of those wines that stops you in your tracks. Raspberry liqueur and cranberry juice and mossy earth as well as cumin spice and a long, mineral complexity to the finish. A breed apart from the (very good) 2018. Among the best of the best i've tried."

97 points, Sam Kim / Wine Orbit 

Immensely complex and seductive, the bouquet shows dark berry, bouquet garni, game, dried mushroom and toasted nut aromas. It's superbly concentrated on the palate delivering outstanding depth and breath, combined with seamless texture and beautifully infused tannins. Symphonic and engaging with an impressively long gratifying finish. At its best: now to 2035. 

96 points, International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2025

• Gold Medal

"Mouth watering, velveteen texture, redcurrant, beetroot, peppery spice, long, fine tannins. Great salinity. Very well integrated. Has matured with real class."

95 points, Bob Campbell MW / The Real Review 

Elegant, seamless pinot noir with oyster shell, savoury/dried herbs, anise/spice and violet flavours. Silken-textured wine that can be appreciated now but has good potential to develop with bottle age. 

96 points, Candice Chow 

Deep ruby-red, even colour throughout. This has a delicate bouquet with aromas of bright floral, intermixed cranberry, cherry, tamarillo and savoury, earthy elements. Medium-bodied, aromas of cherry entwined with dried cranberry, unfolding tamarillo, hibiscus, herbs, mushroom and earthy notes. The wine shows purity of fruit, complex developed layers and lovely concentration. Integrated, lacy acidity elevates and lengthens to a hauntingly beautiful linger. This refined Pinot Noir possesses elegant layers of fruit, floral and earthy development, and persists to a long finish. Match with roasted quail and truffle risotto over the next 8 years.