Akitu A2 Pinot Noir, Central Otago (2020) 2020
Akitu A2 Pinot Noir, Central Otago (2020) 2020 is a dry, medium-bodied white from Pinot Noir (Central Otago, New Zealand), in the rich, round whites style. Acidity is fresh; oak influence is some. Good with duck, salmon, roast chicken, creamy pasta. Cheapest offer £29.50 at Fulham Wine Company.
| Wine | Sweet | Body | From | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Edward Pinot Noir, Central Otago (2022) 2022 Mount Edward · Central Otago | £30.00 | |||
| Kumeu River Ray's Road Pinot Noir, Hawke's Bay 2021 Kumeu River · Hawke's Bay | £28.00 | |||
| Te Mata Estate Pinot Noir, Hawke's Bay 2024 Te Mata Estate · Hawke's Bay | £26.50 | |||
| Domain Road Pinot Noir, Central Otago 2022 Domain Road Vineyard · Central Otago | £26.00 |
Akitu is a small estate near Wanaka, in Central Otago's Upper Clutha basin, planted entirely to Pinot Noir. The vineyard sits alone at 380 metres on ancient schist soils, high enough that the big swing between warm days and cold nights builds real aromatic detail into the fruit. They make just two wines from the site, and the A2 is the more open and giving of the pair. Guided by winemaker PJ Charteris, it's wild-yeast fermented with a portion of whole bunches for lift and aromatic complexity, then aged mostly in older French oak so the wood stays in the background. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it keeps the bright, high-altitude energy of the vineyard intact. The result is silky and perfumed: dark cherry and crushed violet with a savoury note of wild herbs, carried by a fine, mineral line of acidity. Medium-bodied and supple, it's best served slightly cool, around 15-16°C.