The Central Dozen is a case of twelve curated Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand. Each wine was selected through a blind panel tasting of 74 Pinot Noir from the 2022 vintage, led by Master of Wine, Emma Jenkins.Each bottle has been chosen to provide a unique experience, highlighting the terroir and craftsmanship within our wine region.

 

"I am thrilled to have been involved in the selection process of the inaugural Central Otago Dozen. I was joined by experienced local winemakers, Jen Parr, Francis Hutt and Blair Walter, tasting our way blind through 74 wines to a shortlist of 20 and then after much discussion, whittling it down to the final dozen. The quality and consistency of the 2022 vintage was on full display but this was no easy task! There were many ways we could have made the final selection, but we were keen not just to deliver you the ‘shiniest’ wines, or simply a list of the usual suspects. Instead, in putting together this case, we looked for wines that not only justified their inclusion via the usual high quality parameters (balance, intensity, length, complexity, harmony, and general deliciousness) but also stood out in representing the vintage of 2022 alongside key aspects of Central Otago winegrowing, be it subregional expression, single vineyard or block delineation, sophisticated winemaking, old people doing things on new sites, new people doing things on old sites, building upon ‘old’ knowledge, or consistency across volume and/or region. Central Otago Pinot Noir is not as readily pigeonholed as some might hope. It's singular, compelling growing environment is populated by a diverse, skilled and committed array of viticulturists and winemakers, whose own ongoing maturation and experience deliver wines of ever-increasing individuality. I hope you enjoy exploring these wines, and that they whet your appetite to discover more about this superb vintage from an ever-evolving world-class Pinot Noir region."

 

Emma Jenkins MW