2023 Prophets Rock Sophora Pinot Noir
Grape
Pinot Noir
Its Origins
Established in 1999, Prophet’s Rock has become one of New Zealand’s most consistent boutique producers. The name comes from Central Otago’s goldmining pioneers (a physical landmark on a local claim), and the winery has retained an intensely local focus on its original vineyards and terroir - and the varieties that thrive there. Longtime winemaker Paul Pujol carried this ethic back from early work with legendary producers in France, especially in Burgundy, and with Maison Kuentz-Bas in Alsace. Prophet’s Rock maintain deep values of sustainable vineyard management as well as a very European sensibility, allowing wines to express each vintage. While capturing beautiful varietal expression, they pursue in each wine the less obvious - but more satisfying and food orientated - virtues of vinous texture, balance, complexity, and length. In doing so they can achieve an understated depth, harmony, and sometimes extreme age-worthiness that is highly unusual in New Zealand. Their home block is on an elevated site in Bendigo, with the ‘second’ vineyard Rocky Point in Southern Bendigo, on a steep site above lake Dunstan.
What The Critics Say
95/100 Parker's Wine Advocate, Erin Larkin
"This is the first time that this cuvée has been bottled separately, and the vines are grown in very fine schist gravels; the vineyard site has essentially been the recipient of every glacial deposit in the area. The winemaking is mostly the same as the Home and Oleria (Rocky Point) vineyard wine. This vintage sees slightly less time in oak but more time in bottle, but otherwise, it gets the same treatment as the other wines—most particularly, very gentle extraction during fermentation. Aromatically, the 2023 Sophora Pinot Noir is mineral and rocky, with a pure core of pomegranate pearls, pink peppercorn and crushed rocks, with pressed flowers and green olive tapenade as well. The palate is silky and plush, with seamless fruit and phenolic interplay. The whole berry/destemmed fruit is silky and fine. This bears all the hallmarks of the Prophet's Rock Pinot Noir style, viewed here through the lens of the 2023 vintage. It's a beautiful wine. It's good to see the three wines from the three sites here together, as they sort of span the valley. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam." Drink 2025 - 2043
95/100 James Suckling
"Aromas of dark cherries, wild raspberries, orange peel and lead pencil. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and vivid acidity, giving notes of blackberries, blood oranges, dried herbs and crushed river-stones. Balanced and bright with a real purity and a mineral edge. The premier release of this new addition to Prophet’s Rock pinots. Drink or hold."
| Variety | Pinot Noir |
|---|---|
| Region | Central Otago |
| Closure | Cork |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Alcohol | 12.50% |
| Maturity | 2025 - 2043 |
This Wine Goes Well With
Taste
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If for any reason you are not entirely happy with your order or you suspect that they may be affected by a quality issue, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will remedy the problem straight away. Contact us on 0800 422 767.
