Mumm Central Otago Pinot Noir

When the Champagne house of G.H Mumm colabs with top quality, 100% hand harvested Central Otago Pinot Noir grapes – the result is a bit of Mumm magic in a glass!

For the first time in its history G.H Mumm has collaborated with the Central Otago region to produce a world class Pinot Noir. This is the second Central Otago addition to the incredible Mumm Terroir series after the classy Mumm Central Otago Methode Traditonelle sparkling and follows in the footsteps of the hugely popular Mumm Marlborough Methode Traditionelle sparkling wines.

The man central to the project is New Zealand Mumm Chief Winemaker Jamie Marfell. Jamie’s been crafting still and sparkling wine for over 18 years so he knows a trick or two! Old world know-how and new world nouse comes together to create this world class Central Otago Pinot Noir.

It’s been no easy task (and a fair bit of pressure working alongside one of the world’s great Champagne names!) and as Jamie put it “We’ve long worked alongside grape growers in the sub-regions to recognise the best vineyard and sites and the 2021 vintage provided us with excellent conditions and fruit to produce this wine.”

Using hand picked Pinot Noir grapes entirely from the Lowburn sub region and aged for 12 months in 50% expensive new French oak. The end result is a Pinot of real class and style – you’d expect nothing less with the Mumm name attached to it!

Scoring 94/100 with The Real Review’s Huon Hooke who said “Deep ruby with tints of brick-red and purple in the rim; dried herb aromas greet the nose, wild thyme? A trace of burnt sugar with time in the glass. The wine is rich and full in the mouth with amplitude and lovely velvety softness, in spite of the generous tannins which are fine and supple. Very smart pinot: it has weight, intensity, texture and persistence. Oak is there but well handled. Impressive.”

A seriously good Pinot for the money – the wine first entered the NZ market around the $80 mark online and in select retailers but is now being offered for a snip under $40. Drink now or cellar up to 10-12 years from vintage.