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Coal Pit Winery e-cellar door

Coal Pit Vineyard is a boutique family owned vineyard in Central Otago, New Zealand. We are committed to producing world class wines from our sustainably accredited vineyard and on-site winery. We strive to create only the highest quality wine.

Coal Pit Vineyard covers 12 hectares of land on the warm north-facing slopes of Gibbston, the highest sub-region in Central Otago. Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc vines were first planted in 1994 on the glacially formed schist based soils, with a mix of clones for added complexity and balance. The Coal Pit vineyard typically yields intensely aromatic wines with strong minerality and is run in accordance with the proactive environmental management programme, Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.

Owner, Rosie Dunphy's decision to construct a 30 tonne winery in 2007 was integral in shifting the boutique vineyard's focus towards premium quality and allows ultimate control from vine to wine. Situated in the heart of the Coal Pit vineyard, the building faces north toward the Crown Range Mountains and the Kawarau River and comprises a cellar door, a temperature and humidity controlled barrel room, laboratory, meeting rooms and a loft apartment.

Coal Pit is one of the few single vineyards in Gibbston where the grapes are grown, handpicked and crafted into wines on site.

Reviews

2020 COAL PIT PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

Dish Magazine, Jan Feb 2021 - 5 Stars - “super generous, ultra pretty”

Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Nov 2020 - 5 stars - “an exquisite, pure fine-textured line, complimenting the pristine primary fruit characters.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Nov 2020 - 5 Stars (93 points) - “Pristine and elegantly expressed”

Winestate Magazine, Oct 2020 - 5 Stars - “hard to resist…invitingly scented.”

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2020 (93 points) - “floral, fresh and inviting bouquet..balanced, well made.”

Joelle Thomson, Oct 2020 (18.5/20) - “lively and refreshing…pronounced red fruit flavours.”

2019 COAL PIT PINOT NOIR ROSÉ

NZ Listener Magazine, January 18th 2020 (5 Stars) - “Rosé on a roll.”

Otago Daily Times, January 2020 - “a distance runner with a lovely, long carry of flavour.”

Winestate, Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2020 (5 Stars) - “lifted fruit flavours with a strong line of acidity to balance.”

Michael Cooper, Nov 2019 (5 Stars) - “highly attractive, floral bouquet…..excellent delicacy and length”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2019 - 5 Stars (93 points) - “Bright, pristine and delicately expressed; a finely textured palate that is brilliantly focused and persistent.”

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2019 - (88 points) - “Fragrant and very fruity with aromas of roses and light red berry fruits.”

2018 COAL PIT ‘TIWHA’ PINOT NOIR

Pinot Noir of the Year, Interpak Trophy, Winestate Magazine Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition (NZ/AUS) 2021

New Zealand Red Trophy & Sustainable Trophy, International Wine Challenge (UK) 2020

New Zealand Pinot Noir Trophy & Gibbston Pinot Noir Trophy, International Wine Challenge 2020

Winestate Magazine, Dec 2020 - (5 Stars) - “delicate aromas showing lovely subtlety.”

Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Nov 2020 - (5 Stars) - “Flavours are integrated and in harmony.”

Winestate Magazine, Oct 2020 - (4.5 stars) - Central Otago feature, “scented and supple…refined.”

Winestate, Wine of the Year Annual Edition 2020 - (4.5 Stars) - “NZ - The best wines of 2019.”

Winestate Magazine, Sept/Oct 2019 - (4.5 stars) - “Drinking well early…an elegant and supple wine.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2019 - 5 Stars (95 points) - “Combining fruit power and elegance, a magnificently styled Pinot.”

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2019 - (92 points) Outstanding: a wine of superior character and style - “Enticing, balanced and well made.”

2019 COAL PIT 'TIWHA' PINOT NOIR

Rebecca Gibb MW (UK) - March 2021

“Offering delightful perfume with tickle-your-nose aromas of florals, pine, thyme and black cherries, this is a succulent yet precise expression of Central Otago Pinot Noir. Hailing from the cool subregion of Gibbston, it maintains a sense of elegance and freshness despite achieving full ripeness. The tannins are fine and there’s a delicate thread of acidity…..”

Joelle Thomson, wine writer (NZ) - March 2021

“An outstanding expression…The cool climate, elevated hillside vineyard and small production are key ingredients that go into making Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir a wine that stands out from the crowd with its earthy robust style and delicacy. It is the classic iron fist in a velvet glove.” 19/20 points

2019 COAL PIT ‘PROPRIETOR’S RESERVE’ SAUVIGNON BLANC

Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Nov 2020 - 5 Stars (93 points) - “The wine is well-crafted with a beautiful texture to endorse the concentrated fruit.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Nov 2020 - 5 Stars (95 points) - “wonderfully complex and engaging”

Joelle Thomson, Oct 2020 (17.5+/20) - “Top marks for complexity and drinkability – this is super tasty and succulent.”

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, August 2020 (92 points) - “Intriguing and complex…an abundance of acidity. A lovely wine ready to enjoy from today and through 2022+”

2019 COAL PIT SAUVIGNON BLANC

Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, Nov 2020 - 4 Stars (90 points) - “a classy Sauvignon Blanc.”

Otago Daily Times, February 2020 - “Very good to excellent; Quite different with heaps of interest.”

Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Oct 2019 - 5 Stars (93 points) - “Excellent fruit purity and a sense of elegance.”

Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Oct 2019 - (90 points) - “Enticing bouquet…offering cellar attributes as well as early drinking.”