Neck of the Woods Pinot Noir 2021

Neck of the Woods is project run by winemaker Jen Parr who has won many awards for her wines at nearby Valli Vineyards and New Zealand Winemaker of the year in 2020.

Its therefore not surprising this Pinot is so good, offering a silky and supple expression of Pinot at a very attractive price. Aromas of plum, dark cherry and red licorice on the nose with the addition of raspberry and cassis on the palate,  with an elegant and long finish.

The wines are named after New Zealand’s pioneers, this one Master Abel after winemaker Malcolm Abel. The wines are sourced from small vineyards in the Bendigo region of Central Otago. Benbigo was at the centre of the gold rush in the 1860’s and the diverse soils are a result of the sluice mining techniques used.

Sourced from two vineyards one on the valley floor of the Clutha River and the other higher lying with more rock and schist. The grapes are handpicked and partly whole bunch fermented before pressing and run into French oak barrels, 28% new, for 11months aging.

The story of the Abel Clone.

Back in the 70s, a Kiwi traveller returning from France tried to smuggle in a vine cutting, tucked in his gumboot. Sadly, for him, an eager customs officer (and aspiring wine maker) named Malcom Abel confiscated it.

The cutting had been taken from the holy grail of Pinot – Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Burgundy. Abel recognised its significance right away and paid for it to be put through quarantine. A few months later, the cutting was released. Abel planted his prized Pinot clone and died shortly after. But his legend lives on. The Abel clone, or the gumboot clone as it’s affectionally known, now makes up a large portion of New Zealand’s Pinot Noir and one of the four clones used for this wine.