Burn Cottage 'Moonlight Race' Burn Cottage 2023 (750ml)

Pinot Noir grown in Central Otago, the cool, southern corner of New Zealand that has built its reputation on this grape, gives Burn Cottage's 2023 'Moonlight Race' its frame. This is a still red drawn together from the producer's Lowburn home vineyard alongside its Bannockburn Sauvage and Sappa sites, a multi-vineyard expression rather than a single plot, and it carries the lighter touch the vintage allows at 13.5% alcohol.

Expect graphite and a tangle of brambly red and black fruit, dark cherry leading, with a floral, herbal lift threaded through and a bright, almost Campari-like note of blood orange. There is spice here too, star anise and a hint of dark chocolate and coffee. The palate runs juicy and supple, more lean and savory than plush, with powdery tannins that take their time to open before settling into balance. Acidity and structure move as one, which gives the wine its sense of seriousness without losing the easy pleasure, and the finish builds quietly toward something elegant.