Burn Cottage, Moonlight Race Pinot Noir 2020, Central Otago

Burn Cottage refers to the name of the road on which this 28 hectare property sits in Lowburn, Central Otago. The estate was once a sheep paddock until it was purchased by Marquis Sauvage in 2002. Marquis enlisted Ted Lemon of Sonoma Coast’s famous Littorai as their winemaker and together they decided to plant Pinot Noir in 2003.

Burn Cottage is distinguished in Central Otago as the first and only estate in the region to have practised biodynamics since day one. This was Ted Lemon’s one stipulation for his involvement. The winemaking at Burn Cottage is best described as ‘minimal intervention’. There is no addition of yeasts or bacteria for fermentations, with minimal sulphur use and no filtration before bottling. The ‘Moonlight Race’ Pinot Noir is named after a water pathway or ‘race’ that passes through the property. The grapes come from Burn Cottage’s two estate vineyards. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months before release, this is a wine meant for earlier drinking.

A bouquet of bright florals, red cherry and plum is followed with savoury black tea, spice and earth notes. There is a lovely vibrant core to this wine, completed by silky texture and elegant structure persisting in the palate.