Trophy: Best Pinot Noir: Australian Boutique Winemakers Awards 2010
Trophy: Wine of Show: Australian Boutique Winemakers Awards 2010
Trophy for Best Pinot Noir: Shanghai International Wine Challenge 2010
Finalist: Sydney Top 100 Wine Show 2010
To put it bluntly, this is award winning Central Otago Pinot Noir from anestablished producer with a track record to envy and the price is just$35. As you can see from the above, this wine has already won three major trophies including the Trophy for Best Wine of Show at the Australian Boutique Winemakers Awards 2010. At these awards, Huon Hooke, Chairman of Judges stated: “… the Pinot Noir class which was truly outstanding. It clearly demonstrated the superior quality of New Zealand success with this variety... The winning [Rockburn] wine is an excellent example... A superb wine.” The success of the 2009 follows on from previous vintages of Rockburn Pinot that have also repeatedly won awards and praise. Make no mistake, the low price price does not reflect anything else than an over-supply in the market. It is a bargain.
Cloudwine Tasting Note: This Rockburn Pinot has decent depth and length, with a sexymouth-feel. The tannins are not invasive, just sitting in support and give the wine a supple, silkypersonality. There is also fresh acidity from the fruit to keep thingsinteresting and some sour notes of plum and cherry. With an hour or two of ‘air-time’ right now it does verywell thanks, but it will also happily lay down for 5-7 years evolvingand blossoming quietly into a more exotic creature.
Reviews:
A sturdy and ripe pinot carrying suitable weight and presence, dark plums, cherries and cola. The palate is mapped out on sturdy tannins with fleshy mid-palate presence, toasty meaty oak and neat drinkable balance. Gourmet Traveller
Rockburn Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009, tasted a day after opening, is definitely not as fragrant as the freshly opened samples I had tasted before. It seemed really tight on the first sip and I wondered where it was going, then suddenly a burst of sweet fruit filled my mouth with richness and flavour. Spicy, rich and concentrated with black cherry – sweet yet not sweet, the tannins are silky and fine and the finish is definitely dry. Then a subtle suggestion of chocolate and an even more subtle suggestion of anise. And after while, it opened up in the glass to let that glorious aroma come through. The cellar door price is $40, though I've seen it for between $35 and $45 in retail. Shop around.Sue Courtney www.wineoftheweek.com
"Lovely concentration of sweet, spicy fruit. Raspberries and damsons also present on a coffee bean nose." Decanter World Wine Awards.