Red Hut Central Otago Pinot Noir 2024

Named after the huts that scatter the New Zealand landscape offering adventurers shelter and safety, Red Hut is a partnership between long term friends and wine professionals Corey Ryan and Mike Farrugia.

An Australian winemaker, Corey Ryan has had a long-term love affair with New Zealand wine driven by his time as chief winemaker of Villa Maria. A native New Zealander, Mike has worked in the New Zealand wine industry for decades, spending a great deal of time travelling the world selling NZ wine to almost every country on the globe.

Fruit from a single vineyard in Central Otago’s Lowburn sub-region was hand-harvested and destemmed without crushing, then transferred to a small 1.5-tonne open-top fermenter with 20% whole bunch inclusion. The must underwent a five-day cold soak before being gently warmed to initiate a natural fermentation. Fermentation was managed with twice-daily hand plunging over 15 days, followed by a further five-day post-ferment soak to enhance colour and structure. The wine was then pressed to French oak barriques, 25% of which were new, with the remainder being second, third, and fourth-fill barrels. Maturation took place over 12 months in barrel, and the wine was bottled unfiltered to preserve its character and integrity.

Tasting Note: The nose opens with lifted aromas of wild cherry, redcurrant and dried thyme, underpinned by hints of rose petal and subtle oak spice. On the palate, fine-grained tannins frame a core of vibrant red fruit, complemented by savoury undertones and a touch of earthiness from the whole bunch inclusion. A cold soak and extended post-ferment maceration have contributed depth of colour and a silky, layered texture, while 12 months in French oak lends structure and finesse.

Bottled unfiltered, this wine is pure, expressive and built to evolve gracefully over time. 13.8% ABV.