John Saker, Te Whenua

Bannockburn-grown, and deftly made. The nose offers squashed berryfruit notes, along with a savoury twist. Palate-saturating fruit, red and dark, with a savoury seam, moves with ease and poise to a lengthy finish. A graceful, complex rendition.

93 Points — Bob Campbell MW, The REal Review

A two-litre bag-in-box produced from pinot noir grapes grown in Bannockburn. Mid-pink, flavoursome rosé with rose petal, raspberry, and strawberry served with a seductive texture. The equivalent of $26.22 per bottle in a handy pack that will last for 3-4 weeks once opened. Every fridge should have one.

92 Points — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Smooth-textured, supple red that is fruit-focused with cherry, strawberry, vanilla, spice and seductively drinkable. Serious pinot noir that is a bargain at this price. (Two-litre bag-in-box)

93 Points — Cam Douglas MS, The Shout Magazine

A wine with a silken texture and flavours of pear and apple, baking spice and white peach, some grapefruit peel and fine sandy soil mineral flavours. Medium+ to near full-bodied with fine wood and fruit tannins, medium+ acid line and a Brazil-nut butter highlight. Balanced, well made and ready to drink from day of purchase through 2027. The acid line and citrus highlights along with a developing mineral and piquant frame are key highlights remaining persistent as the wine opens out in glass.

93 Points — Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review

Vibrant, pithy and layered nose with perfumed spice and honeyed, savoury complexity. The fruit expression is riper, in the warm citrus and stone-fruit spectrum. Lively and expressive on the medium-dry palate, the carefully balanced mid-weight flavours are long, linear and juicy with the sugar expertly balanced by a clever whiff of mineral reduction, tapered phenolics and delineating acidity. A decadent yet elegant riesling which manages to finish refreshingly off-dry

93 Points — Cam Douglas MS, The Shout

A delicious wine touches the palate in a just dry expression, flavours of white apricot and rose apple flavours, citrus and lime-flower. A backbone of acidity, satin mouthfeel and lengthy finish. A must have addition to your cellar with best drinking from mid to late 2024 through 2030.

92 Points — Cam Douglas MS, The Shout

A bouquet of ripeness, fleshy fruit scents and minerality. Aromas of white peach and pear, fresh red apple and sweet quince and a whisper of lees autolysis enhancing a mineral suggestion of stone. Delicious, warm, textured and generous on the palate with flavours that reflect the bouquet, just dry with some very fine fruit and lees textures, core fruit flavours and a balanced finish. Be sure to serve this wine cool at around 8 Celsius, on its own is fine or with creamy pasta

96 points — Cam Douglas, camdouglasms.com

Complex, mineral, savoury, youthful and vibrant varietal bouquet. Aromas and flavours of red currant and apple, dark cherry and thyme. There’s a spicy wood character and earthy complexity reflecting the use of oak and cool climate site along with a youthful flinty note reflecting fruit quality and winemaking skill. A wine for the cellar with best drinking from 2024 through 2032+.

95 points — Bob Campbell, MW The Real Review

A very good example of Bannockburn pinot with dense, almost succulent red fruits, violet, red rose, herb, thyme and anise characters. A seductively smooth-textured wine with with a lingering finish.

94 points — NZ Wine Rater

A modern, potent, perfumed, high-tone nose on the riper end of the spectrum. There are appealing aromas of violets, strawberry conserve, raspberries, vanilla and cream. Seductively plush in texture, rich, tasty and concentrated, with suave, supple tannins and plenty of oak. Delicious drinking.

95 points — Cam Douglas, camdouglasms.com

There’s no mistaking the scents of pinosity with a floral, dark cherry and heirloom raspberry. A fine savoury dried herb line with moments of thyme and sage. The core of fruit drives the bouquet. On the palate - quite intense and fresh with a core of fruit flavours that mirror the bouquet, firm tannins and acidity layer in texture and structure. The finish is savoury and mineral with barrel spices adding complexity without disrupting the story of Pinot Noir. Best drinking from late 2022 through 2030+.

94 points — Bob Campbell, MW The Real Review

Single vineyard pinot noir from Bannockburn with plum, dark cherry, smoky oak, dried herb, anise and spice flavours. A moderately dense, vibrant wine, with a nice mix of fruit and savoury characters.

94 points — NZ Wine Rater

Fragrant, complex nose with plush, lifted aromas of strawberries and cream, red cherry, spice, coffee, vanilla and sauteed brown mushrooms. Medium-bodied, modern, supple and silky with upfront fruit tempered by fairly robust tannins with some noticeable spice and heat on the finish.

95 points — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Softer and more fragrant than most Bannockburn pinot noir from this vintage. Medium-bodied with cherry, berry, fresh herbs, struck-flint and spicy oak flavours. An appealing wine made with a light touch.

4.5 stars — Winestate

Forward in its appeal, this highly attractive red was grown at two sites and matured for a year in oak barrels (21% new). Ruby hued, with a hint of development, it is mouthfilling and supple, with generous, ripe cherry, herb and spice flavours, showing considerable complexity, and a harmonious, well-rounded finish.

Rating: Excellent — Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times

A beetroot tinge, shifting to perfume and florality, an umami quality, fruit neatly in support, earthiness later. The palate follows the savoury theme, tilled earth, minerality, quite fine tannins, structure yet approachability. Supple initially, more chewy, the backbone evident as it breathes, closing with sweet fruit lift. Some youthful brashness, vibrant and lively.

92 Points — James Suckling

This is a spicy and sensual pinot with savory aromas of truffles, ash, grilled herbs, plums, bluebells and cloves. Supple and well-integrated, with a medium to full body and rich array of dark fruit and spice. Sustainable. Drink or hold.

91 points — NZ Wine Rater

Lifted, hedonistic, concentrated nose with sweet fruit notes of dark forest berries, kirsch, strawberry conserve as well as forest floor complexity and vanilla pod oak. Medium-bodied, sweet-fruited yet with prominent acidity and a stamp of firm tannins on the finish that may challenge some and are best softened by serving with food.

94 Points — Cameron Douglas MS
Varietal, mineral and fruit centric bouquet with suggestions of tart raspberry and ripe red cherry, some cranberry moments and dark spices of toasty French oak. Overall youthful with an enticing complexity. Vibrant, salivating, tense and youthful on the palate with flavours of red berries and plum, more cranberry and toasty barrel spice complexities. Well made and needing some cellar time with best drinking from 2023 through 2029+.

92 Points — Jane Skilton MW
Bright limpid ruby with youthful juicy red fruit aromas of strawberry and raspberry. The palate is silky and ripe with just the right amount of tannin to give grip and structure. This is an approachable attractive style of pinot noir that is drinking very well now.

93 Points — Angus Hughson, Winepilot.com
There are not many in Central Otago that know more about pinot noir than the Dicey clan. Father Robin with sons Matt and James have decades in the wine business between them and it shows in their wines, particularly the pinot noirs, which show great delicacy of fruit and a gentle touch in the vineyards and winery.

This is a very pretty and fragrant pinot style, which is not always easy to find in Otago. Bright mid cherry in colour, there is red berry fruit lifted by rose petals with a backbone of oak and spice. There is great generosity of fruit with more dark earth emerging on the palate which is long and subtle. There is plenty to like in this impressive first vintage.

Rating Excellent — Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times
A wild and funky hint, lead pencil, wood shavings, subtle fruit, florality building. Powerful, brooding palate with grainy tannins, a savoury, umami core running through this, oak notes in support, the fruit swelling. Bold, chewy, a bittersweet nuance to the lose. The elements are here but for now this hasn’t fully integrated. Time will be your friend.

Rating Excellent to Outstanding — Mark Henderson, The Otago Daily Times

Simply bursting with juicy dark fruits, herbs, smoke, stony/lead pencil notes, more fragrant with aeration. Plum & dark berries, lovely richness to the fruit matched by zestiness which gives a tingly, slightly crunchy feel to the palate. A splendid combo of intensity & balance, I didn’t want to spit this out. If Central can do this with Gamay, bring it on.

93 points — NZ Wine Rater

Very deep crimson hue. Lifted, primary, varietally expressive nose with attractive aromas of ripe damson plum, and blueberry with hints of bubblegum, cinnamon and dark chocolate. Soft, lush, generous, flavoursome, fruit-driven style with crunchy acidity and soft, bright sappy tannins. True to variety and good drinking.

91 Points — James Suckling

Inviting aromas of black cherries, blueberries, white pepper and eucalyptus. Medium- to full-bodied with succulent tannins. Blue and red fruited palate with steady balance and intensity. Leafy herbs come through. Nicely composed.

90 points — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Rich, dense, fruity wine that mimics pinot noir with its plum and dark cherry fruit flavours although lacks the complexity and power of pinot. Seductively accessible red for those who favour 'fruit bomb' wines.

94 Points — Jane Skilton MW, Gourmet Traveller Wine

Great gamay has texture and interest while letting the grape’s inherent energy run wild. This succeeds beautifully; white pepper, redcurrant and raspberry fruit with a little fresh, crushed thyme. Crunchy, crisply fruited and with a vibrant appealing character. A joyful wine.

93 Points — Bob Campbell MW
Light, fresh gamay with red cherry, plum, violet, savoury and fresh herb flavours. One of only seven New Zealand gamays I have tasted and certainly one of the best. A soft-textured wine with a lingering finish.

94 Points — Cameron Douglas MS
A fantastic bouquet of roses and red cherry, sweet plum and raspberry, a layer of minerality and whisper of dried herb. Crisp, fruity, floral, refreshing and dry with flavours that mirror the nose, an abundance of tannins with a fine chalky edge, contrasting acid line and a core of flavour that just won’t stop! A delicious example, well made and ready. Best drinking from today and through 2026. Be quick!

Rating Excellent — Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times
Grows with aeration. Wildness, burnt bramble, berryfruits, full of intrigue. Juicy, crunchy palate showcasing raspberry, dark berries spice and bonfire embers. Medium-bodied yet deceptive power to this, building in depth and structure with the flavours lingering on the long, crisp finish. Unfiltered, so a little cloudy and I suspect best drunk in its youthful vibrancy.

91 Points — James Suckling

An aromatic nose of sliced peaches, pears, crushed rosemary and blood orange. Medium-bodied and off dry. There is a richness to the palate with sweet stone fruit and savory herbs and spice. I like the density here. Sustainable. Drink or hold.

5 Stars — Jane Skilton, MW, The Independent Wine Monthly

According to winemaker Matt Dicey, 2021 was a more benign growing year which has contributed ‘more plushness and richness to the wine’. The 2020 Chenin Blanc was lovely but this 2021 is a step up in deliciousness, tastes a little sweeter and more opulent and is all the more delightful as a result. Aromas of meyer lemon, green apple and orange blossom lead to a poised, succulent palate where the ripe fruit is balanced by salivating, flinty acidity. It would cellar but why bother – it is super delicious now. (And amazingly keenly priced to boot).

92 Points — Gourmet Traveller Wine

This vintage tastes a little sweeter and more opulent than the previous one and is all the more delightful as a result. Aromas of meyer lemon, green apple and white blossom lead to a poised, succulent palate where the ripe fruit is balanced by mouth-watering, salivating acidity. Delightful.

91 Points — Bob Campbell MW
Stylish chenin blanc with apple, lemon and a hint of honey. The wine has nice purity and a good balance of subtle sweetness with fruity acidity. Good drinking now but should age well.

93 Points — Cameron Douglas MS
Aromas of white fleshed fruits and citrus - apple and pear with a blossom and honeysuckle suggestions. Crisp, refreshing and youthful bouquet. On the palate - an off dry expression with some residual sweetness at first, then, acidity, texture and a vibrato on the palate moves in amplifying the flavours of honeysuckle, citrus and apple. Delicious, lengthy and salivating. A lovely example to be served as an aperitif or with myriad of delicate sweet seafood and salads. Best drinking from late 2022 through 2028+.

4.5 stars — Winestate

This fragrant, full-bodied wine was matured for 11 months in oak barrels (16% new). Offering strong, ripe stonefruit flavours, gently seasoned with oak, it is savoury, with very good depth, vigour, complexity and harmony, and a lengthy finish. Best drinking 2024+

93 points — NZ Wine Rater

Appealing, modern, fragrant bouquet with aromas of freshly baked apple strudel, green melon and vanilla pod. An impressively structured wine with good viscosity, vinosity, balance and texture and concentrated peach kernel flavours that linger on the finish. An engaging wine on every level.

92 points — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Ripe, almost luscious chardonnay with peach, melon, nutty oak and yeast lees flavours supported by a backbone of ripe acidity. Mellow, accessible wine that is probably at, or close to, peak condition right now.

90 Points — James Suckling

Aromas of garden herbs, grapefruit and oyster shell. Medium-bodied with very clear jasmine tea character coming through. Not your typical chardonnay, but tasty and well composed all the same. Sustainable. Drink now.

95 Points — Cameron Douglas MS
Fabulous complexity with a youthful core of cool climate fruits with grapefruit, yellow apple, reminds me of golden kiwifruit and white flowers. All is revealed on the palate with flavours of fresh peach and quince, red apple and golden Kiwiwfruit. No mistaking the youthful side with a vibrant acidity and abundant tannins delivering mouthfeel and foundation. A lovely example that will age well with best drinking from mid to late 2022 through 2029+.

91 Points — Bob Campbell MW
Lively, vibrant chardonnay with green apple, grapefruit, brioche and nutty oak flavours, together with a subtle struck-flint character supported by a tangy backbone of acidity. A taut, mouth-watering wine.

94 points (4 stars) — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

From a near-perfect vintage in Central Otago, with a lack of frost and wind, warm and wet at the start with a protracted hot dry spell in the middle and a long cool ripening period. Luscious, full-flavoured pinot gris with ripe pear, stewed apple and honeysuckle aromas supported by gentle acidity that gives the wine an off-dry finish. Silken-textured wine that’s a pleasure to drink.

94 Points — James Suckling

This is a fantastic Pinot Gris with sliced melon, spiced pear and white pepper with some freshly grated nutmeg and raw ginger. Full-bodied and layered with a spicy dryness at the finish. Intense and levitated. What a wine. Not afraid to go dry with this. Well done.

93+ points / Excellent — NZ Wine Rater

Pronounced, attractive, varietally distinctive nose with aromas of brown pears, honeysuckle, green melon, desiccated coconut and baking spice. Full-bodied, rich, dry, textural with plenty of phenolic weight and a clean, lively finish. True to variety, this is a wine that ticks all the boxes.

94 Points — Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Pure, ripe, varietal and seductively scented bouquet reminiscent of wild flowers and quince, white fleshed nectarine and moments of peach and a leesy mineral complexity. Satin textures touch the palate first then contrasting cool climate acid line accentuating the mineral aspect then a core of flavours that mirror the bouquet. Balanced, fresh, ripe and ready with best drinking from 2022 through 2025+.

4.5 stars — Winestate

Delicious young, this is a powerful, sturdy wine, attractively scented, with generous, ripe peach and lychee flavours, fresh acidity and an off-dry, finely balanced finish. Best drinking mid-2023+

92 points — Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review

Ripe, almost luscious flavours of pear, stewed apple, spice, anise and honeysuckle supported by moderately mellow acidity and light, peppery phenolics. A crowd-pleasing pinot gris.

90 Points — James Suckling

Aromas of honeysuckle, ground ginger and sliced lemon. Full-bodied and bone dry on the palate. Very steely, mineral palate with bright acidity and lemon character. Drink now.

4 Stars — Jane Skilton MW, The Independent Wine Monthly

A confident approach to the ‘low alcohol/touch of sweetness’ style of riesling that seems to work so well in Central Otago. White peach and nectarine, spring blossom and a hint of just-ripe apricot. A touch of sweetness is offset by rapier-like acidity which contributes to the mouth-watering texture. Crisp and delicious.

Ranked No.2 in Top 10 NZ Rieslings — WineFolio

Lively, floral-led nose brimming with mandarin, grapefruit and lime leaf aromas. Elegant and balanced, with a swoon of sweetness to balance the pure acidity. Good weight and intensity into the palate. Honeycomb, beeswax texture and nuances towards the finish.

92 Points — Bob Campbell MW
Medium-dry riesling with lime zest, white rose, saline and oyster-shell flavours. An initial impression of sweetness is balanced by quite assertive yet fruity acidity that gives the wine some pleasing tension.

93 Points — Cameron Douglas MS
Precise and exacting aromas of sweet lemon and apple, lime- flower, pear, white peach and mineral. Youthful, fresh and harmoniously attractive. Off-dry style with residual sweetness to a medium level. Immediately contrasted by acidity highlighting flavours of green apple and lemon, minerality and white flowers. Delicious, fresh and youthful with a long finish. Best drinking from 2022 through 2029+.

90 Points — James Suckling

Lovely aromas of beeswax, wet stone, freshly cut grass and grapefruit. Medium-bodied and off dry. Steady with subtle sweetness and a wet mineral finish. Tasty. Sustainable. Vegan. Drink now.

93 points / Excellent — NZ Wine Rater

An understated yet impactful wine on the nose with pure fruit aromas of sweet lemonades, white flowers, Italian parsley and fresh fennel. A fresh, lively wine with intense vibrant, primary green apple fruit and a tangy crisp finish. Kabinet in style. Fruit forward offering a great everyday-drinking wine.