2023 Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir

With the famed Felton Road vineyard merely a stone's throw away, we find ourselves in the absolute dress circle of NZ's mighty South Island. This single-vineyard plot, farmed organically and dry-grown, is set in the high hills above the Bannockburn township. It is also, remarkably, one of the region's oldest planted vineyards.

James Suckling, a recent blow-in to these far-flung antipodean parts (having just established his very own Central Otago vineyard), set the wine world alight by awarding the 2022 vintage of this NZ Pinot a mighty 98 points. That’s Ata Rangi territory. Or Rippon. Or Dry River. And now, this 2023 release steps confidently into the spotlight, following in the footsteps of its acclaimed predecessor.

Sourced from one of the highest-altitude vineyards in Bannockburn (some 300m above sea level), the 2023 vintage showcases the same hallmarks of brilliance but with a slightly different personality. Thanks to an exceptional growing season, the vines yielded fruit with dazzling intensity, once again requiring little intervention in the winery. The result is pure expression – six unique clones woven together to create a tapestry of flavour, depth, and finesse.

You have to taste this to believe it. We are talking flavour and value in equal measure.

Terra Sancta means special place, and the wines that hail from here live up to the name. The Mysterious Diggings wines, born from sandy soils and steep slopes, express themselves through a bouquet of violets, vibrant red fruits, and captivating spice. These are pure, elegant wines, with textured tannins delivering silken bliss.