The Auswine Forum

A section on the Great Outdoors was dedicated to actor Sam Neill's Central Otago winery. After reading about it in AGT Wine last year, never got around to looking for the wine - forgot to look out for it while in NZ as well.

Out of curiosity, has anyone had the opportunity to try any of the wines in the range? Any thoughts?

The Last Chance 02 is a good pinot I've had a few times. It is in the big fruited, generous Otago style. The first paddock I've had once and I was uderwhelmed. Haven't tried any others.

I had some Last Chance 2003 last night and thought I might comment on it, then saw this old thread on Sam's wines, so will add to it.

I thought the 03 was a decent Pinot. It was very varietal, with the characteristic nose I like from Pinot, and lots of upfront fruit. I was getting plum and toward the end of the bottle more strawberry and red fruit. It didn't seem to have the depth and complexity of some of my favourites like Quartz Reef or Peregrine, though. I can't compare to other vintages I'm afraid. I believe the range is changing this year though, so the 2006 will not be Last Chance, its being replaced by "Neill Pinot" as the premium wine in the range.

While on the subject I also had some Two Paddocks Picnic Reisling 06 just the other day too, and was quite impressed, though I'm not too experienced with Reislings to really say. It was a decent quaffer.

This got me thinking, though, which other celebs if any are in the biz? And do they make good wine?

Bick wrote:This got me thinking, though, which other celebs if any are in the biz?

Whilst I doubt they have anything more than 'creative influence', here are some:

Sting, Ian Botham, Rick Stein, Olivia Newton John, Francis Ford Coppola, Michael Seresin, Cliff Richard, Greg Norman, Bob Willis...

Bick wrote:And do they make good wine?

Can only vouch for the Seresin range, which I reckon is pretty good booze.

Max wrote:Out of curiosity, has anyone had the opportunity to try any of the wines in the range? Any thoughts?

Yes, tried a few of their range. First Paddock, Last Chance and Picnic all from the 2003 vintage, which was a good pinot noir vintage for C.O. in my opinion.
Picnic is a cheaper more commercial style with fruit cake cherry and a herbal edge. Liked the First Paddock (Gibbston Valley) for its savouriness - more savoury than I usually expect from the region. Last Chance (Alexandra fruit) was quite silky. They have another wine that is a blend of all vineyards, which I haven't tried recently. I notice they have 2004 and 2005 wines out now. 2005 would be a better bet then 2004 without first tasting them.
Wines are made by Dean Shaw at the Central Otago Wine Company, a contract wine making facility which Sam Neill part owns. Shaw makes at least 15 of the regions labels and knows what he is doing.

Have tried the 2004 Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir ($23.99USD). In a single blind tasting it was easy to pick as Pinot, but paled alongside the 2004 Felton Road Pinot (about $36USD). It says something that the Felton Road has sold out here while the Two Paddocks still sits on the shelves.

Mike

KMP wrote:It says something that the Felton Road has sold out here while the Two Paddocks still sits on the shelves.

Mike

Um .... Felton Road sells out everywhere. It has the name, it has the cachet.

SueNZ wrote:

KMP wrote:It says something that the Felton Road has sold out here while the Two Paddocks still sits on the shelves.

Mike

Um .... Felton Road sells out everywhere. It has the name, it has the cachet.

Actually Felton Road has not sold out everywhere, yet!

But my point is that quality, even at a higher price, sells better than your average bottle of grape juice.

Mike

i have found that the 2004 Rippon Pinot Noir is better and less expensive than the Felton Road. Although i would like to try more Otago Pinots if some could be recommended.

Thanks

You could try a couple from Chard Farm. Their range of Pinots include Finla Mor, Vipers and Sugarloaf - I think you can get their Finla Mor from one of the big chains in Aus.

We drank an '04 Finla Mor over the past few nights. It is a pinot that I like - silky soft tannins and more savoury and forest floor than strawberries and cherries.