Two Paddocks - The Major General Pinot Noir 2021 (750ml)

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Price: $77.99

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Producer	Two Paddocks
Country	New Zealand
Region	Central Otago
Varietal	Pinot Noir
Vintage	2021
Sku	123882
Size	750ml
ABV	13.00%

Two Paddocks Description

Tasting Notes

Both a reflection of the 2021 Central Otago vintage and a celebration of our three great single vineyards. Aromatics of blackberries and violets. Medium bodied with bright freshness and elegant precision.

About the Wine

Founded in 1993 by the proprietor, Sam Neill, Two Paddocks consists of four small estate vineyards in Central Otago. Typically, these sites are blended to produce the flagship Two Paddocks Estate Pinot Noir. However, in outstanding seasons, winemaker Dean Shaw also crafts a limited top tier barrel selection and creates an ‘uber Two Paddocks’. Sam has named this rare Central Otago combination, The Major General, in remembrance of his Great Grandfather, Brigadier General Charles Triscott, CMG DSO CB.

“My Great-Grandfather served most of his life in India and took part in the relief of Khandahar and the conquest of Burma. He looked staunchly formidable with his handle bar moustache and my Grandfather had to pluck up his courage and ask for his beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage. He also loved to entertain and I like to think he would have enjoyed this assemblage named in his honour.” - Sam Neill, Proprietor

Private Paddock, Club Member Tim Love commented "...truly the best Pinot I have ever tasted. It was well worth waiting for. Very complex but still with heaps of red fruit."

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.

A blend of three sub-regions, Alexandra 19%, Gibbston 39% and Bannockburn 42%. Hand harvested and sorted, 62% whole bunch pressed. The wine had 12 months of elevage (post fermentation maturation) in French oak barrique, 24% new wood, before being blended and then spent a further 6 months maturing in stainless steel before bottling.

PH Level 3.5
Total Acidity 5.9g/l
Alcohol 13%
Bottled February 2022
Cellaring 2024-2032
Winemaker Dean Shaw
Viticulturist Mike Wing
Total Production 100 cases

Reviews & Awards

Huon Hooke, The Real ReviewSeptember 2024
93 Points
Medium-deep red-purple colour, thinning towards the rim; there are smoky charcuterie and vegetal/stemmy characters, char-oak, a suggestion of humus, while the palate is rather firm and angular, closing with grippy tannins. A bunchy style which needs protein-rich food, and would benefit from more time. Drinking 2025 - 2036
Susy Atkins, DecanterJune 2024
97 points
Named for Neill’s great-grandfather, this is the inaugural release of a premium selection from the Fusilier, First Paddock and Last Chance vineyards, which represent the region’s three main valleys. Rounded, ripe, loaded with fleshy, bright ripe strawberry. Supple tannins, an oak veneer and both herbal and pepper twists. Built to age.
Jancis Robinson MW, The Financial Times January 2024
17 Points
Blend mainly from Bannockburn and Gibbston, with about one-fifth from Alexandra in the south of Central Otago. This is apparently winemaker Dean Shaw's idea of the perfect blend. Racy and mineral. Admirably fresh! Drinking 2023 - 2032
James Suckling January 2024
95 Points
Aromas of black berries, brambles and violets followed by kola nuts, cloves, and a touch of caramel and toasty notes. Medium-bodied, bright acidity with yet compressed tannins. Elegant and precisely framed wine. From organically grown grapes. Needs a couple of years to open. Screw cap.

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