Amen Break Central Otago Pinot Noir 2023
- 93
- $30
- Drink by: 2025-2033
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Top notch Central Otago Pinot Noir for this price is a rarity indeed – good luck finding better for the money. From a single vineyard, the Gravelly Gully Vineyard, this is made by Matt Harrop who established his reputation with stellar Pinots (and other wines) at places like Curly Flat and Shadowfax. If I followed correctly, the reference to Amen Break is a nod to a six second drum solo from 1969, which must have been pretty smashing, given the brief time. The colour is a riveting crimson, mauve. This is powerfully fragrant with notes of warm earth, forest floor, raspberries and cassis, moving to lovely strawberry jam notes on the palate. A hint briary with some blueberry notes. There is focus and length with fine tannins, and a considerable amount of them. Time in the cellar, two or three years, would allow the moderation of those tannins. Seriously good value. Enjoy this over the next five to eight years.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
