Mills Reef Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022

Mills Reef Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir is a beautifully expressive Pinot Noir from Central Otago, bringing together juicy red cherry, ripe boysenberry and redcurrant with a lovely twist of clove, dried herbs and savoury spice. The palate is supple and silky, with layers of vibrant red fruit, subtle minerality and gentle French oak adding depth without overpowering the fruit. Fine, velvety tannins and refreshing acidity keep everything nicely balanced, leading to a smooth, lingering finish with a touch of earthy complexity. Made from low-yielding Central Otago vines, this is an approachable yet characterful Pinot Noir with plenty to enjoy. A fantastic match for roast duck, lamb, grilled quail or a creamy mushroom risotto.

What the winery says:

Grapes were sourced from low-yielding vines in Central Otago following a long, warm summer that allowed the fruit to reach excellent ripeness. After gentle crushing, the grapes underwent a three-day cold soak to develop colour and flavour, followed by fermentation with light plunging and a short period of post-fermentation skin contact. The wine was then matured for 12 months in French oak barrels, including 35% new oak, to build structure and complexity. Lightly fined with egg white and filtered before bottling in October 2023, the finished wine offers sweet cherry, clove and subtle mineral aromas, with rich boysenberry, savoury oak and refined tannins.

What the experts say:

Cameron Douglas MS, 92/100 (2022)
“Enticing, savoury, red fruits and spice, floral and ready. Aromas and flavours of red currants laced with dried herb and gentle barrel spice highlights. Red apple and currant, wild florals and hay, vanilla and stone. Dry and lighter weighted with a satin touch at first then contrasting mouthfeel from tannins and acidity. A very nice wine with texture and fruit, a sense of regional identity and balance. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2029. Ready to drink.”