Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir 2022

Family owned Coal Pit from Gibbston in Central Otago, NZ is committed to producing world class wines from their sustainably accredited vineyard and on-site winery, where only small volumes are produced annually. Glacially formed schist based soils on warm north facing slopes consistently yield well integrated wines of great structure and elegance. The vineyard became certified organic under BioGro in 2023, with the 2019 Pinot Noir the first produced under organic conversion.

The Coal Pit name is derived from the historical area in the nearby mountain ranges which provided the early pioneers, musterers and gold miners with coal while the flagship Pinot Noir ‘Tiwha’ pays tribute to the owner’s late father. The symbolic oil painting by Chris Heaphy, a famed NZ artist and close family friend, hangs in the winery and is featured on the Coal Pit label.

Vineyard & Treatment:

Grown on a high elevation Bendigo site, field blend of clones 115, 5 and Abel. Favourable growing season, extended hang time. Hot & dry growing season yielding high quality concentrated fruit. Handpicked fruit, 100% whole bunch, wild fermentation in stainless steel with delicate maceration using pour overs. Very light foot-tread prior to pressing, aged in 3 year old French oak, unfined, lightly filtered.

The winemaking philosophy for Bendigo was heavily influenced by our winemaker’s time spent at Domaine Sylvain Pataille in Marsannay-la-Côte, AOC Côte de Nuits – arguably Marsannay’s best producer and an incredibly innovative and dynamic figure in Burgundy.

Lifted aromatics of bramble fruit and oriental florals with a hint of dusty cocoa pay homage to Bendigo’s sub-regionality, with a hightone of warming kirsch influenced by the 100% whole bunch practice. An opulent palate rich with peonies, wild red berries and Christmas cake spice with some savoury undertones flows freely, and a delicate quality to the layered tannin structure is apparent.

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The striking black Bendigo label is an iteration of the iconic Chris Heaphy painting which hangs in the Coal Pit winery. The first Artisan Series release of our Coal Pit Bendigo Pinot Noir — an exciting project beyond our home sub-region of Gibbston and a chance to explore and expand horizons.