Caroline's Pinot Noir 2022
96 points, Sam Kim
The bouquet is alluring and inviting with wild strawberry, sweet cherry, thyme, clove, and nutmeg aromas, followed by a silky-smooth palate that's juicy and finely flowing. Wonderfully composed and styled with refinement and harmony, leading to a persistent, velvety finish. At its best: now to 2035.
95 points, Raymond Chan
Light ruby-red, even colour throughout. The nose is lifted, with aromas of cherry plum, red date, raspberry, sweet floral and delicate spice. Medium-bodied, aromas of red cherry and raspberry intertwined with plum, vanilla, hibiscus, rose, cinnamon and earth. The wine is delicate and appealing; lacy, engaging acidity flows effortlessly, binding the red fruit core with floral, earth and gentle spices. Supple, dusty tannins lightly coat the palate and unfold spices. This Waitaki Pinot Noir is lifted and ethereal, with an enlivening and haunting closing. Match with roasted quail and pigeon over the next 10 years. Handpicked, clones 115, 667, 777, UCD6 and Abel. Fermented to 14.24% alc. 19/20 pts (95 pts) Apr 2025.
94 points, Cameron Douglas
Ripe and varietal, fruity and very new. Aroma of raspberry and cherry, plum and strawberry. A fine seam of limestone and clay soil woven through scents of barrel add complexity and intrigue. Taut, dry, fruity, and complex, a wine with an abundance of fine needle-point tannins and a backbone of acidity. Core fruit flavours mirror the bouquet. Plush, ripe, fruity, and vibrant with a lengthy and youthful finish. Best drinking from 2028 through 2034+.
94 points, Stephen Wong
Polished blackberry, violet and plum with floral notes, a seasoning of chocolaty oak and spicy, savoury complexity which unfurls in layers. The palate is tapered with fine tannin and tight acidity creating length for the youthful, backward flavours. Some charry savouriness and oak does creep in towards the back but on balance, the wine is sleek and compact, packed with black fruit and a persistent, evolving finish. It will evolve in the cellar for a decade at least. Best drinking 2026–2037
Climate
La Niña’s weather patterns left a distinct mark on the 2022 season in the Waitaki Valley. A warm, generous spring delivered even budburst with little interruption from frost. Unlike previous years shaped by strong westerlies, this season was driven by a milder, wetter easterly flow. Flowering conditions in December were cool and damp, naturally reducing crop weights and berry size — key factors in building flavour concentration. Mild summer temperatures preserved acidity, while a dry, settled autumn allowed for harvest in near-perfect conditions. While the season’s rhythm shaped the fruit, Caroline’s Pinot Noir remains true to its lineage — poised, expressive, and quietly powerful.
A beautifully expressive red, this wine opens with an alluring bouquet of briar and bramble, interwoven with fragrant plum and a vibrant red fruits medley. The palate is elegant and refined, with silky tannins carrying the layered fruit through to a long, graceful finish. Subtle hints of spice and earth add depth, while a finely balanced acidity ensures freshness and poise. A wine of sophistication and charm— a classic Caroline’s showing the distinct signature of both the terroir and the region.