Monte Christo Winery Pisa Pinot Noir 2023 (Central Otago)
I'm always delighted to discover a new winery – it piques my interest as I’m always excited to discover something fresh. A quick scratch below the surface, however, reveals that the Monte Christo Winery in the Alexandra Basin is anything but new. Originally founded in 1864 by Jean Désiré Féraud, a French businessman who came to New Zealand in 1863 during the gold rush, the winery was just one of the businesses the industrious Frenchman owned in the region.
His vine plantings were some of the first in Central Otago and by all accounts the wines were very good and were awarded gold medals in wine shows of the day. Sadly even these accolades weren’t enough to sway the then predominantly beer- drinking Kiwis who ultimately weren’t ready for the innovative Féraud. The vineyard was sold, returned to farmland and Féraud moved to Dunedin to focus on his other business endeavours.
Today the winery has been resurrected by Féraud’s relatives Stanley and Catherine Paris, along with Stanley’s sons, who are not only making wine from this historic site but who have also lovingly and carefully restored the original stone building which is now the Monte Christo tasting room. All I can say is that New Zealand is most definitely ready for the second coming of Monte Christo as this pinot is beyond compare.
It’s hearty and welcoming on the nose with aromas of strawberries and black olives with hints of Middle Eastern spices. The palate is plump and plush with fresh acid and well-rounded, bold tannins. There is a deep core of sweet dark fruit throughout the astoundingly long and weighty palate. Superb.