Burn Cottage Moonlight Race Pinot Noir, Central Otago

Moonlight Race is Burn Cottage’s second wine, named after a stream that runs through the property. It draws fruit from the Burn Cottage estate in Lowburn, as well as two neighbouring sites in Bannockburn and Pisa, giving it a broader lens on Central Otago Pinot. The vineyard has been farmed biodynamically from the outset, with a hands-off approach in the winery led by winemaker Claire Mulholland. The fruit is largely destemmed, but it includes a proportion of whole bunches, and the wine is matured in a mix of new and seasoned French oak. It’s a Pinot of clarity and focus, with dark cherry, raspberry, and redcurrant notes, a savoury thread, and firm tannins that hold the line through the finish. While it drinks well upon release, it has the balance and structure to age well in the cellar. An authentic Central Otago Pinot and an accessible introduction to one of New Zealand’s most respected producers.