A Quick Visit to Queenstown - The Winery

The Winery is a stylish wine store in the heart of town, with a comfortable tasting corner where you simply press buttons and the wine is poured directly into your glass. With dozens of wines to choose from, it makes tasting effortless and enjoyable. I spent $100 and 1.5 hour, tasted 13 wines, a quick scan on Central Otago PN, here are notes. the light/medium/full is categorised and presented by the store.

• 2024 Dragon Bones Pinot Noir 89 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, North Otago

  Intense aromas of blueberries, and other dark berries. Fresh earth, herbal and forrest floor, showing complexity. m- body, medium firm tannins. very young, not settled, need time. 130 cases only total production.
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 15/20, Overall 3+3/10
  Total 89+/100

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• 2022 Valli Pinot Noir 25th Anniversary Gibbston Vineyard 94 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  alluring nose, fregrant and perfumed, floral, dark cherry, some dry herbals and forrest floor. vibrant in mouth, fruity driven, layered by earth and medical herbs, medium body, fine grained tannins, a little grippy. long finish with chocolate ntoes. still young but already delicious.
  
  WA 93
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 4+4/10
  Total 94+/100

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• 2019 Coal Pit Pinot Noir Tiwha 93 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  fregrant and fruity, dark cherry and dark berries, underlined some herbs, earthy and savoury notes. well integrated in a m/m+ body, chalky tannins, m+ fresh acidity. a typical Central Otago, fruity with strength and elegance. at peak, very enjoyable.
  
  CD 95, RC 19.0+, WF 92, Winestate Trophy - Pinot Noir of the Year 2022
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 5+3/10
  Total 93/100

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• 2019 Takapoto Estate Pinot Noir 91 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  ripe dark cherry, concentred core with earth and smoke, it's more savoury than fruity, not usual as a Gibbston. medium body and fine tannins, integrated well.
  
  CD 92, SK 96, CC 95
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 12/13, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+3/10
  Total 91/100

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• 2022 Clos Ostler Pinot Noir Caroline's 92 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Waitaki Valley

  M- ruby in the glass, open with a highly perfumed nose defined by elegant rose and violet florals. The palate is inviting and fruit-forward, bursting with layers of wild strawberry, tart raspberry, and a mix of red and dark cherries. Fresh and highlighted acicity, nuanced undertones of savory herbs and cool-climate spices add complexity.
  
  There is a certain magic found in wines grown at the edge of traditional viticultural region, as long as they survived. Waitaki Valley is one of those new frontiers .
  
  CD 94, SW 94, RC 19.0, SK 96
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+3/10
  Total 92+/100

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• 2022 Hawkshead Pinot Noir Reserve 93 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Gibbston

  ripe dark cherry and dark berries, sweet herbs, concentrated core full of sweet fruits. rich and seductive, m+ body, silky tannins, running smooth and long.
  
  as descibed in the official website, "A blend of three barrel-selected beauties; bold seductive Bannockburn, delightfully fruited Lowburn grapes elevated with the aromatic and savoury Gibbston grapes." it's blended as roughly 5:4:1, a beautiful work, and representing Central Otago very well.
  
  BC 95, CD 94, SK 96, MC 5, CC 18.5+
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 4+3/10
  Total 93+/100

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• 2024 Sato Pinot Noir 92 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Bannockburn

  Ripe strawberry and cranberry lead the palate, layered with dry herbal notes and hints of rose petal. Medium bodied with dry, youthful tannins, showing good balance and plenty of fresh energy.
  
  The fruit comes from the Domain Road vineyard, clearly expressing typical Bannockburn terroir. Vibrant and balanced, with a bright, youthful character that promises further development with time.
  
  JS 94
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+3/10
  Total 92+/100

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• 2023 Sato Pinot Noir La Ferme de Sato Les Violettes 94 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  dark cherry and berries, lovely floral and perfumed, m+ body, grainny yet smooth tannins, fruity core, balanced. long finish.
  
  JS 96
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 14/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+4/10
  Total 94+/100

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• 2021 Bracken's Order Pinot Noir Sleeping Nun 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  drak fruits, fresh, dry palate with moderate spices, oak, earth, and alcohol warm, ripe fine grained tannins. nice PN, having a concentrated core, energy and heat.
  
  Bracken's Order is a boutique small producer, sources fruits from Mondillo vineyard (in Bendigo), 60 cases made only.
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 12/15, Palate 15/20, Overall 3+3/20
  Total 88/100

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• 2021 Rippon Pinot Noir Emma's block 94 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Lake Wanaka

  fregrant, red/dark cherry and berries, floral, dry herbals, very well integreted, elegantly balanced, with power and depth. m+ body, ripe tannins a little firm. lingering long with dry and savoury notes. an iconic one of Wanaka, and Central Otago too.
  
  JM 94, WA 96, JS 97, CD 95
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 18/20, Overall 4+4/10
  Total 94+/100

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• 2017 Pearson Estate Pinot Noir Mon Cheval LeChar 94 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara

  Fragrant and expressive, showing ripe dark berries alongside cherry and raspberry. The palate is dense yet balanced, with a fruit-driven core carried by an m+ body. meduim tannins, refined, and well integrated, leading into a long, lingering finish marked by sweet herbal and earthy notes.
  
  The wine has aged beautifully and feels settled and complete, no surprise, given it was deliberately held back by the winery for several years before its recent release.
  
  RC 19.5-
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 14/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+3/10
  Total 94/100

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• 2022 Devotus Pinot Noir Aprentis Martinborough Terrace 90 Points

  New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

  red berries and dry herbs, moderate savoury notes, eath and mushroom, m/m+ body, fresh acidity, moderate grainy tannins. a little alcohol warm in finish.
  
  it's made from young vines, has good complexity and density, but lacks of concentration and length, comparing to its siblings: estate and reserve level Devotus.
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 16/20, Overall 3+3/10
  Total 90+/100

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• 2023 Prophets Rock Pinot Noir Olearia 93 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  pure and fruity, with subtle floral smell, bright fruity core, mild spices, medium body, dry and savoury tannins, lingering finish with mineral complexity.
  
  The fruits come from a steep, schist-based site in Bendigo, unique and well polished. still young, need time.
  
  WA 96+, JS 95, Decanter 95
  
  Ap 5/5, Ar 13/15, Palate 17/20, Overall 4+4/10
  Total 93+/100

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