Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022

Loveblock is a winery committed to organic practices, environmental stewardship, and sustainability, with bases in Marlborough and Central Otago. Legendary winemaker Kim Crawford is in charge of the winemaking.

The grapes used in this Pinot Noir come from the "Someone's Darling" vineyard, a proprietary vineyard in Bendigo, a relatively warm area within Central Otago. This vineyard began its organic conversion period in 2022. There are five different clones of Pinot Noir, which are blended in a balanced way to create this wine.

Grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with wild yeast. The wine is aged in barrels for 8 months. This Pinot Noir offers rich fruit flavors reminiscent of ripe black cherry and plum, with hints of mushrooms and other fungi, as well as cacao. While enjoyable now, it can also be aged for 5 to 10 years.

It pairs well with roasted chicken and pork ginger. It also goes splendidly with braised pork belly, teriyaki chicken, and mapo eggplant. Even better when served with mushrooms.

About Loveblock Winery

Loveblock is a winery run by winemaker Kim Crawford and his wife, Erica.

Kim gained experience at wineries in Australia, Napa Valley, and South Africa, returning to his home country of New Zealand in 1988, where he served as winemaker for "Coopers Creek" for about 10 years.

In 1996, he established "Kim Crawford" with Erica, and two years later, began exporting to the US. The winery frequently appeared on Wine Spectator's Top 100 wineries list, gaining high acclaim worldwide.

However, seeking even greater ideals, the couple sold "Kim Crawford" and established Loveblock in the Awatere Valley of Marlborough.

Loveblock's vineyards are located in Awatere and Central Otago. The Awatere vineyard was discovered by Erica in 2003, who fell in love with its "views" and "great potential," and began winemaking after many years of preparation.

What the couple values most is organic winemaking that expresses the individuality of the land. They cultivate an organic farm where animals such as chickens, sheep, and cattle, as well as diverse plants, coexist, demonstrating their commitment to winemaking that respects the natural environment and coexists with animals and nature. The "Loveblock Farm" vineyard in Awatere is BioGro certified.

The Central Otago vineyard is located in Bendigo, the warmest area within that region. Only Pinot Noir is cultivated here, benefiting from abundant sunshine and well-draining soil.

About Central Otago

Central Otago, the southernmost wine region in New Zealand, is renowned for its Pinot Noir and is often referred to as one of the "world's three great Pinot Noir regions," alongside Burgundy and Oregon.

Beyond Pinot Noir, the region also focuses on cultivating aromatic white grape varieties. This area is unique among New Zealand's wine regions as it has a semi-continental climate, characterized by significant diurnal temperature variations, cool temperatures, and very dry conditions.

It is also a treasure trove of small-scale wineries, and winery tours based in the scenic town of Queenstown are popular.

Loveblock Central Otago Pinot Noir 2022