Wine Advisor
Akitu, Pinot Noir Blanc 2024
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Erin Larkin
The 2024 Pinot Noir Blanc is a little reductive on the nose, with notes of white strawberry, lemon butter and unripe Granny Smith apple. In the mouth, the wine is clothy and textural up front, although the acidity through the finish is a little green and feels cloying. I love the concept and have really liked previous vintages, but I find this green acid character to be overt. Having said that, it may be a real highlight for some. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.
Reviewed by: Rebecca Gibb MW
The 2024 Pinot Noir Blanc is, as its name suggests, a Blanc de Noir—a rare beast for Central Otago, let alone New Zealand. It's made from 100% Pinot Noir, picked around three weeks before the rest of the Pinot Noir. Though the 2024 derives a rich, lightly creamy palate from its maturation on lees in old oak, it is infused with nervosity and tingles with bright acidity. Creamy apple fruit and nashi pear give way to a light savoury edge on the medium-length finish. Now in its sixth vintage, the 2024 has achieved more balance through the mid-palate in terms of both texture and acid. This would be fabulous with seafood and Japanese food.
About the Producer
Akitu is located in New Zealand's Central Otago appellation, and is a well-known family-owned winery in the region. Central Otago is located on the southern tip of New Zealand's South Island, the most southerly wine region in the world, and has the geographical advantage and natural conditions to grow the world's best Pinot Noir. "Akitu" means "peak, highest point" in Maori. Akitu is located on a hillside at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level, and its 12 hectares of vineyards are divided into six plots with approximately 40,000 vines. The vineyards are scattered in the Wanaka Lake area, where the clear blue water serves as a source of irrigation and a natural thermostat, keeping the microclimate around the lake stable and resulting in very small yields of very high quality in the Wanaka sub-appellation. For many years, Akitu Winery has carefully cultivated the Pinot Noir grapes, and the different weather conditions and terroir of each plot each year give the grapes a different concentration of aromas and flavors, which provides more options for blending the wines. In the cultivation of Pinot Noir grapes, the winery has always maintained two beliefs: patience and persistence. With 45 rows of Pinot Noir vines in the vineyard, the winery is dedicated to producing quality Pinot Noir grapes and producing delicious wines that perfectly reflect the local terroir. Andrew Donaldson, the founder of Akitu Winery, is a big Pinot Noir fan. He has made Central Otago his second home and his dream of building his own winery has been realized here. Steve Blackmore, the winery manager, graduated from LincolnUniversity with a degree in viticulture and then worked at a winery where he gained extensive experience. He now oversees every detail of the Akitu winery from the germination of the grapes to the bottling of the wine. The winemaking consultant is Australian winemaking superstar PJ Charteris, who has won every Australian winemaker award during his 12 years at the legendary Brokenwood in the Hunter Valley and is the face of the Australian wine industry internationally.
