McArthur Ridge Pinot Noir Brassknocker 2021

McArthur Ridge sits high on the terraces above the Waikerikeri Valley in Central Otago’s Alexandra Basin, one of New Zealand’s most striking and extreme winegrowing regions. The property traces its roots to 1870, when Scottish settler James McArthur arrived in the area. More than a century later, the land - once defined by gold rush trails and arid soils - was transformed into a vineyard, made possible by a natural spring fed by glacial waters.

The scale of McArthur Ridge is impressive, but its identity remains firmly grounded in place. The estate is especially known for Pinot Noir, a variety that thrives in the basin’s dry climate, long sunshine hours, and cool nights. With a strong focus on site expression, technical rigour, and sustainability, McArthur Ridge has earned both national and international acclaim for wines that are precise, structured, and expressive of their high-altitude origin.

Each individual vineyard parcel is harvested separately then de-stemmed prior to 5 days cold soak. Fermentation took place using wild yeast for some cuvee and others were inoculated with selected burgundy yeast to enhance clonal differences in the fruit. Gentle daily plunging of the skins for an average of 21, followed by extended skin maceration for three weeks post ferment. The wine was pressed, racked to barrels and tanks for malolactic fermentation, received 50% oak aged for 9 months in seasoned French oak,10% new, the balance aged with staves in tank. The wine was blended and filtered before being bottled.