The Picnic Point label depicts Sam Neill's grandparents picnicking on Karitane Beach at Otago circa 1919. The jovial chap with a pipe is Sidney Neill, established importer of French wines, among other things. Some friends, a blanket or two, a bit of lunch and a glass of wine, looks like life was good. Picnic Point is made for times like these. Sam Neill's entry level Pinot Noir, though by any measure, a praiseworthy effort. Each year Picnic Point release a limited amount of vintage, so you may find yourself on a journey bound for Central Otago to find it.

$4099each $491DOZEN EACH DOZEN Picnic Point is a perennial favourite at Two Paddocks, the wine Sam Neill enjoys everyday! Central Otago presents its fair share of challenges to growers, the most notable being early frosts in Gibbston and late frosts in the Alexandra basin. The viticultural and winemaking team walk the vineyards at harvest, tasting the grapes to determine time for harvest. All grapes are hand picked, most bunches are de-stemmed and cold macerated for a week. Following completion of a wild, indigenous ferment, batches are treated to a further week of maceration on skins. Components are transferred to a selection of seasoned French medium toast barriques for ten months maturation, before racking and bottling.

Rich ruby colour. Brambles and plum up front, herbs and spice on the mid palate with savoury undertones. Redcurrant, bramble, wildflower and spice aromatics followed by a richly textured wine. Nice tension, flow and persistence. A splendid expression of Central Otago, elegant, complex and structured, full of the traditional qualities expected of fine Pinot Noir.

The wonderful national endowment of Tyrrell vineyards are scattered far and wide across the length and breadth of the Australian continent, Hunter Valley however is where the Tyrrell wineworks call home. Fashioned from a collation of the finest parcels Hunter Valley Pinot Chardonnay, crafted to true Methode Traditionelle and vintaged under the Tyrrell cellars, a fuller, richer style of sparkler that only the auspicious Tyrrell vineyards can produce.

$2699each $323DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are picked at optimal ripeness levels and gently pressed to extract juices with minimal transfer of colour, batches are vinified in fermenters at moderate temperatures around 18C for a fortnight. Following completion of primary ferments,components are held on gross lees for three months, prior to being filtered and bottled with a tirage for the secondary fermentation. A third of the parts are treated to two year old French oak and partial malolactic. The finished wine is aged on lees in bottle for almost two years, after which it is disgorged and liqueured while remaining in original bottle.

Splendid effervescence, luxurious bead. Fine yeast and biscuit aromas, scents of peach and acacia, citrus, raspberry and pear. The aromatic characters extend on to the palate, creamily textured, generous ripe fruit flavours delivering good weight and extended length, the crisp jonagold acid at the finish balances and refreshes the palate.

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