Two Paddocks was established in 1993 by Kiwi actor, Sam Neill, who was raised in the South Island of New Zealand, and still calls it home. Initially Sam bought a paddock in Gibbston and aimed to grow a small amount of his favourite grape – Pinot Noir – with the hope of producing enough wine for his friends and family. Back then, Central Otago was in the very early days of winegrowing, so to buy and plant Two Paddocks was a huge leap of faith. Nowadays the region is 80% planted in Pinot Noir and has arguably been New Zealand’s most successful region with this variety. Two Paddocks now consists of four small vineyards in the Gibbston, Alexandra (Earnscleugh) and Bannockburn sub-regions of Central Otago. Two Paddocks Riesling is an estate grown, single block selection made from fruit grown at Two Paddocks’ Red Bank Vineyard situated in the Earnscleugh district of Alexandra, Central Otago. As in the vineyard, this wine was hand crafted using traditional methods and bottled early to ensure all the integrity and vitality of the wine was preserved. The soils in this block are well draining schist loam and the vines tend to thrive. Additionally the hot day time temperatures that Alexandra experiences over summer encourages riper stone fruit flavours, until late afternoon when the ‘Roxburgh Doctor’ wind arrives and causes a dramatic drop in temperature and hence the significantly cooler nights that the region is known for. Peach stone, frangipani and honeydew aromatics lead to a dry wet stone flavour profile showing phenolic floral drive and great balance. "Aromas of lime and green melon show clearly. Full-bodied and minerally with a slate undertone to the palate. Turns dry and complex at the end with gunpowder and slate-lined fruit. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap."92Pts James Suckling
