Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022

Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir brings together ripe black cherry, fleshy plum and sweet strawberry with violet, earthy mushroom and gentle savoury notes. Sourced from Loveblock's family-owned Someone's Darling vineyard in Bendigo, it reflects the warmer side of Central Otago while keeping the freshness, silky texture and fine tannin that make Pinot Noir so food-friendly. There is plenty of fruit here, but also enough herbal and earthy detail to keep things interesting. A polished choice for roast lamb, duck, salmon or a mushroom-heavy dinner, and approachable enough to open without organising a special occasion first.

What the winery says:

The fruit comes from the Someone's Darling estate vineyard on Bendigo Loop Road, planted on free-draining sandy loam over schist alluvial gravels known as Molyneux soils. The vineyard includes Dijon, Pommard and Abel Pinot Noir clones, selected to contribute floral character and structure. Grapes were hand-picked in April, sorted and transferred to tank without crushing to retain some whole berries. Following a five-day cold soak, fermentation began with indigenous yeast, with the ferment hand-plunged twice daily. The wine completed malolactic fermentation in tank and matured for eight months, with approximately half aged in oak.

What the experts say:

Christina Pickard, Wine Enthusiast, 94 Points (2022)
“Pleasant cherry-strawberry aromas take the melody, with bass notes of smoked meats and dried florals and herbs behind. The palate is mid-weight with lovely silky fruit framed in taut, fine tannins. Well structured and approachable now, this should age nicely, too.”