OTAGO Central Otago & Waitaki Valley

57 TASTED

57 RECOMMENDED

Central Otago (together with the Waitaki Valley, in North Otago) is New Zealand’s second best-known wine region – behind only Marlborough – on the world stage, but accounts for just five per cent of the country’s planted vineyard area. Its high profile reflects the eye-catching success of the region’s enticingly perfumed, increasingly complex and ageworthy pinot noirs.

After a warm spring, record mid-summer heat and a wet end to the season, 2018 yielded a record harvest in Central Otago, both in terms of crop size and early-ripening. The region’s 2018 whites and pinot noirs offer delicious, early drinking. The major finding of this tasting, however, was the outstanding quality of the reds from the low-cropping, very cool and late-ripening 2017 vintage.

These aren’t cheap wines (there’s nothing here, white or red, below $NZ20), but their overall standard was exceptional.

Prices shown are approximate New Zealand retail. Wines available in export markets are shown as (A) Australia; (UK) and (US).

CHARDONNAY

3 TASTED

3 RECOMMENDED

Chardonnay trails pinot gris and riesling in Otago, in terms of its planted vineyard area, but the quality of the latest releases suggests chardonnay has a strong future in the deep south.

Brennan Gibbston Central Otago Chardonnay 2018