Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir

Central Otago, New Zealand

From biodynamic vines planted 1982-1993 on the schist terraces above Lake Wānaka — New Zealand's most romantically situated vineyard. Wild fermentation; 50% whole bunch; 16 months in aged French oak only (no new oak); unfined and unfiltered. Sublime elegance: red cherry, orange peel, dried rose, iron-rich minerals, and crystalline clarity. Lighter in colour than Bannockburn but extraordinary in texture and length. One of New Zealand's greatest and most allocated wines.

Pairing intelligence

• main: Rippon Mature Vine's biodynamic Wanaka complexity bridges the Cervena venison; an estate wine for the estate's own terroir game
• main: Rippon's biodynamic Lake Wanaka Pinot bridges the organic lamb; the estate's own vineyards above the lake for the lake region's lamb
• main: Rippon's biodynamic elegance bridges the roasted duck and cherry; both are expressions of Central Otago's wild landscape
• main: Rippon's extraordinary delicacy and lake-edge mineral character work brilliantly with salmon — one of the few proteins that matches the wine's colour, delicacy, and umami without overwhelming it. The Pinot sauce creates a deliberate bridge; mushroom duxelles echoes the wine's earthy depth.
• casual: Rippon's mature vine depth bridges the mushroom tart and truffle oil; a biodynamic Wanaka Pinot for an earthy New Zealand preparation
• main: Rippon Mature Vine in the braise creates a biodynamic flavour loop; Lake Wanaka's finest wine for a slow-cooked farm preparation
• cheese: Rippon's complexity bridges the aged Whitestone Cheddar; a biodynamic Wanaka Pinot for a NZ aged dairy tradition