Two Paddocks
Proprietor's Reserve The Major General Pinot Noir 2021 750ml

Founded in 1993 by the proprietor, Sam Neill, Two Paddocks consists of three small estate vineyards in Central Otago.  Typically, these site are blended to produce the flagship Two Paddocks Estate Pinot Noir.  However, in outstanding seasons, winemaker Dean Shaw also crafts a limited top tier barrel selection and creates an ‘uber Two Paddocks’.   Sam has named this rare Central Otago assemblage, The Major General, in honour of his Great Grandfather, Brigadier General Charles Triscott, CMG DSO CB.

VINTAGE COMMENT

Vintage 2021 was characterised by climatic variation extremes throughout spring and early summer and then developing into a fantastic finish, with a long stable mid-summer / autumn warm period, right up to and over harvest. At the start of the season, a cold winter continued into a dry warm spring with steady vine shoot growth.  

The grapes flowered over December 2020, which was warmer than last year but with intermittent rain that resulted in only half the vineyard blocks achieving desired crop loads. The first week of January saw a significant rain event and that set the vineyards up with optimum soil moisture levels for the rest of the season. There was some typical early and late in the season frost fighting, but the vine canopies stayed resilient and green with harvest staring a week earlier than typical on the 30th of March and finishing on the 22nd April.

WINEMAKERS NOTES

A blend of three sub-regions, Alexandra 19.2%, Gibbston 38.7% and Bannockburn 42%.  Hand harvested and sorted, 62% whole bunch pressed. Matured in 24% new French oak with the balance in older wood for an extended 14 months of barrel maturation.

TASTING NOTE:

A celebration of our three great single vineyards.