The Wine Advocate | RP 93
Published: Dec 14, 2023
Drink: 2023-2033

The 2021 Moonlight Race Pinot Noir is a blend of three different vineyards and multiple blocks and clones (56% is Burn Cottage in Lowburn, 22% is Sauvage Vineyard and 22% is Luna Vineyard in Bannockburn). On the nose, there is fresh red cherry, plum skin, raspberry pip and brine. The tannins are super fine in the mouth—pulverized and chalky. This is a gorgeous wine, mineral and cooling, with a svelte shape and satisfying flow of flavor across the tongue. Great! And, it must also be said, great value. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 95
Published: Mar11, 2023

Lots of boysenberry and strawberry aromas and flavors with an underlying smoky and mineral edge. It’s full and layered with beautiful tannins and a long and flavorful finish. A little tight at the end. Gorgeous and curated. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

Winemaker

The First Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir under screwcap delivers you rich black Doris plum / dark berry fruit flavours and succulent tannins from the Sauvage Vineyard that are beautifully tempered by the floral, crunchy red fruit and savoury edge of the Burn Cottage.

Vintage Notes: Early season was quite changeable with cool temperatures at times, accompanied by regular rainfall in November and December. One impact of this was that flowering extended over a long period. Temperatures rose favourably to bring good summer conditions through January, and February had fine weather interspersed with higher than average rainfall.
Conditions were mild in March, with some cooler days, and the fruit benefited from a slow extended ripening preserving balance and acidity.

Winemaker Tasting Notes:
From vintage 2018 our Moonlight Race has been solely about our two unique estate vineyards: Burn Cottage Vineyard in Lowburn, and Sauvage Vineyard in Bannockburn. The combination of these two sites produces a vibrant expression of classic Central Otago Pinot Noir.
Bright notes of cherry, florals and pepper spice are accompanied by rosehip and savoury earth characters. There is a lovely concentrated core supported by supple texture, and fine tannins extending through the palate. Approachable now, and with cellaring potential to 7 years.

Finished wine detail:
pH 3.74
TA 5.4 g/L
Alc 13.0%
Commenced Harvest: 24th March
Finished harvest 12th April
Average Brix at harvest: 23.5
New oak percentage: 21%
Cooperages: Damy, Mercurey, Sylvain
Average time in fermenter: 18 days
Composition by block: Burn Cottage Vineyard : 57%
Block 1, Clones: 5, 115, 114
Block 2, clones: 5, 10/5, 115, 667, Abel
Block 4, clones: Abel, 943
Block 6, 115, 667
Block 7, 667,777
Block 8, 10/5, 667
Sauvage Vineyard : 43%
Clones: 5, 6, 667, 115, 777
Vine Age: 17-21 years