Rippon ‘Rippon’ Pinot Noir Mature Vine 2019

Rippon, the western board of Roy’s Bay, Lake Wanaka. Rippon’s north-facing escarpment forms the meeting point of terminal moraines and coarse gravels; all based in schist. Rippon, a wine issued from all of the fully developed Pinot Noir vines, is considered the farm voice of this distinct parcel of land.

Picked by hand into small, 10kg cases allowing the fruit to arrive at the winery’s sorting table undamaged and intact. This wine represents many small parcels of different clones, vine ages and micro-sites within a single Vineyard: Rippon. They were picked and fermented separately in 13, 2-tonne stainless-steel fermenters.

Each parcel is fermented and matured apart before blending. The winery’s resident yeast population (non-inoculated) completed cuvaison in 14-28 days. The ferments reached maximum temperatures of 13-29 Celsius.

Total time of skin contact: 14-28 days depending on parcel

12 months of new (16.6%) to 4 year old French oak barrels. The malolactic fermentation went through unaided (non-inoculated) in springtime; it was then racked back into barrel and allowed a second winter in barrel before being run directly into bottle without filtering or fining.

Total Time in Barrel: 18 months

Bottling date: 30th September 2020

Decisions made in the vineyard and winery first consider the effect the outcome may have on the micro-flora of the soils, vines & wines. Rippon does not use herbicides, fungicides, pesticides or soluble nitrogenous fertilisers on the property. All the property’s organic waste matter is recycled to make around 40 tonnes of fungal dominant compost every year. This is spread back over the land during the first descending moon after harvest as an inoculation of beneficial micro-flora for the whole property…and thus starts a diverse and vital web of life on which to live and produce. Certified biodynamic.

RIPPON PINOT NOIR CENTRAL OTAGO RIPPON 2019
Score 98
Firm and tight licorice, graphite, slate and light dried strawberry. Goes to iron. Flowers. Medium body. Creamy and fine tannins with a rather dusty finish. Fresh acidity and long and linear finish. Structured. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2024, but already beautiful.
JamesSuckling.Com

*Rippon, Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2019 Central Otago 
17.5 Points Jancis Robinson
Full bottle (not screwcapped) 1,293 g. Hand-picked from mature, biodynamically grown vines in Lake Wanaka on the western board of Roy’s Bay. Rippon’s north-facing escarpment forms the meeting point of terminal moraines and coarse gravels, all based in schist, on which some of the region’s earliest vines were planted. Spontaneous fermentation and cellared in barrel for two winters before being run off directly into bottle without fining or filtration. Cool service temperature and decanting are recommended. Very sophisticated, complex nose with both fruit and undergrowth tones. Wow! Some spice and a perfect balance between fruit and acidity. Great presence and freshness without being remotely skinny. Really very glorious now, although there is a little undercurrent of almost imperceptible tannin. Jancis Robinson  12th – 20th July 2023

Rippon Rippon Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2019
Posted on 05 October 2022.
WINEFRONT BY MIKE BENNIE
The gist of the Rippon Rippon pinot is to get a handle on the magnificent vineyard site overall – all the parcels of older vines in chorus, in this wine. Interesting thing with these 2019s is how stiff and stoic they are on first opening. They either need a huge decant if drinking now, or better, cellar time to show their mettle. Vin de garde release. I tasted this over four days, and had a look on day seven too. Rare practice.
This is sinewy and firm, dark fruited, lashed with brined black olive savouriness and stippled with dried, Italianate herbal character and a sooty spice note. Perfume and palate in accord. Fine ribbons of tannin tighten the wine, there’s an emery board feel to it all and yet a juiciness lays underneath, a succulent core of briny acidity reaching long through the wine and refreshing with each sip. It’s quite beautiful in its lean and muscular way. Time, please.
Rated : 94+ Points
Tasted : SEP22
Alcohol : 13.5%
Drink : 2025 – 2035+