Everyone wants a good pinot noir. That’s why finding one for the right price, from a good producer and from the right climate is becoming more and more difficult. We are proposing that instead of looking within Burgundy or Europe or even the Northern Hemisphere, you cast your eyes to one of the world’s southernmost winemaking regions – Central Otago, New Zealand, which is producing world-class pinot noir at exceptionally competitive prices. We have tasted and rated about 130 New Zealand pinot noirs so far this year.
Our highest-rated pinots in New Zealand tend to come from Central Otago, and for good reason. It has unique climatic attributes, which are exactly what great pinot noir needs. The region has the only continental climate in New Zealand thanks to its setting amid New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The stunning mountain range runs north to south along the western side of the South Island and then wraps eastward around Central Otago.
Central Otago’s location not only gives it protection from the wet and cold Tasmania Sea to its west, but with an average elevation of about 300 meters (980 feet), it also gets plenty of sunlight. Soil compositions vary wildly from subregion to subregion but often contain silica, quartz and mica mixed with schist gravel, which creates naturally lower vigor and good draining. Lying at a latitude of 45 degrees south (like Burgundy’s 47 degrees north) means a moderate climate: warm and sunny during the day and cool and crisp at night. These are perfect growing conditions to make excellent pinot noir.
Grapes were first planted in the Central Otago region in the 19th century by Jean Desire Feraud, a French gold miner who saw the potential the area had for excellent Burgundy-style wine. He even went on to win a gold medal for his wines in Sydney in 1881. However, after some attempts in the late 19th century to commercialize the region’s winemaking, the area was mostly used for stone fruit planting. It wasn’t until the late 1980s and early ‘90s that the region was set ablaze with a passion for producing fantastic pinot – with excellent results.
Due to the range of altitudes and soil types, every form of pinot you could want can be found here. There are cool areas, such as Gibbston, that produce high-acidity, fruit-forward wines. There are also places like Bannockburn, which has some of the area’s warmest and driest conditions and produces highly complex wines. Many of our recommendations are from this area. Bendigo is another excellent region; it’s the hottest spot in Central Otago and faces northwest. The vineyards planted there get optimal sunlight during the day, which the stony soil holds onto for the cold evenings. The result is excellent, spicy and fruit-filled pinot noir.
Below are eight of our favorite pinot noirs from recent vintages, and all under $40. These are not the absolute pinnacle of the region, but are an excellent introduction to a serious pinot-producing area that should be on your radar. They are vibrant, complex and delicious.
– Nathan Slone, Associate Editor
Mount Edward Pinot Noir Central Otago 2017 – JS96
KLWines.com: $29.99
Sato Pinot Noir Central Otago Pisa Terrace 2018 – JS95
International Price: $35
Quartz Reef Pinot Noir Central Otago Bendigo Estate Single Vineyard 2018 – JS94
KLWines.com: $29.99
Akarua Pinot Noir Central Otago Pisa 25 Steps 2019 – JS93
International Price: $24
Mt. Difficulty Bannockburn Pinot Noir 2018 – JS93
jjbuckley.com: $39.94
Carrick Pinot Noir Central Otago Bannockburn Billet-Doux 2018 – JS92
International Price: $24
Ceres Pinot Noir Central Otago Composition 2017 – JS92
wine.com: $34.99
Mud House Pinot Noir Central Otago Claim 431 Vineyard 2020 – JS92
International Price: $21
