Brooding, thoughtful, dark and intriguing aromatically, whilst bold the underlying core is elegant, fragrant and fresh. A gorgeous expression of this idyllic Bannockburn vineyard.
“We grow our premium Two Paddocks Pinot Noir entirely on our four small vineyards in Central Otago. In some exceptional vintages, listening carefully, we realise that one of these sites may have something extraordinary to say in its own right. It is only then that we will make one of these very rare single vineyard wines.” - Sam Neill, Proprietor
The Fusilier Vineyard is named in honour of Sam’s father, Major Dermot Neill, a soldier in the Royal Irish Fusilier Regiment for twenty years before returning home to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he ran the family Wine & Spirit business, Neill & Co. Planted entirely in 2000, The Fusilier is 5.6 hectares of pinot noir, on rolling northerly facing terraces at the western end of Felton Rd and bordered by the vineyard of the same name. Soils on the terraces consist of deep alluvial fans, which are made up of varying depths of silt, sand and gravel layering all derived from mountainous raw schist parent material.
95 points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
Impressively deep, rich purple-red colour; the bouquet is highly detailed, strong on roasted meats and smoky charcuterie, char-oak and dark cherry; there is lovely sweet succulent fruit in the core and then a wave of firm, grippy tannins sweeps in. It's a wine of serious depths and assertive character, which deserves to be given a little time as well as a hearty protein dish for company. Drinking 2025 - 2038
