Rockburn, Central Otago (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2019

 Rockburn’s Pinot Noir is excellent with integrated suggestions of earthy underbrush, tobacco leaf, dark black fruit, and tart cranberry notes.  The body has nice food-friendly acidity with well-integrated, silky tannins.  Pinot Noir has been on the rise in New Zealand with both large and small producers increasing quality and, subsequently, exports.  Central Otago is the most southerly major wine region in the world, and its unique location on the eastern side of the Southern Alps provides a protected continental climate.  When combined with lots of New Zealand sunshine, this cooler continental climate allows the fruit to ripen while retaining the grape’s acidity.  Rockburn’s gentle winemaking approach does the rest to produce this excellent, high quality Pinot Noir.