World Wine Awards Gold Medal winner: top class New Zealand Central Otago Pinot Noir from Akarua: case of 12 bottles delivered

Gold Medal – New World Wine Awards 2022
93/100 – Decanter World Wine Awards 2022
93/100 – Bob Campbell MW

Decanter hails Rua 2021, a ‘massive force of juicy dark raspberries and black forest fruit with a heady overtone of smoke, orange peel and Christmas spices’ and judges in the Decanter World Wine Awards, awarding 93/100 points, note ‘Smoky nose with notes of black currant, plums, dark cherries and cloves. Youthful and vibrant on the palate, silky texture.’

‘Bright ruby with a pinkish rim, a red fruits core of aromas centring on black cherry and boysenberry, there’s a distinctive mineral quality and a mix of older and some new barrel complexity. Equally exciting on the palate with a luscious fruit core of red berries and currant, some wood spice, mineral and light sweet oak qualities. Fine tannins and youthful acid line. The complete package: early drinking style, balanced and well made. Drinking best from 2022 through 2026.’

This wine displays lifted perfumes of Christmas cake spices along with bramble, lavender and wild thyme. The palate is vibrant and concentrated with a red berry fruit character and darker notes of blackberries and black cherries. Soft, silken tannins, a bright structural acidity and stony mineral linger on the finish.

Awarded five trophies and 12 gold medals over the last five vintages, Rua is a show-stopper. It’s one of the of best value Central Otago Pinots the Club Panel have tasted, and for our Members at £16.92 a bottle delivered, it’s a great buy.

It is great as an aperitif, and with food: beef, veal, poultry including pan-fried duck and game (particularly early season grouse, pheasant, venison), spicy dishes and creamy cheeses, including blue.

Case of 12 bottles. RRP £300. CCUK Members £203 including UK mainland delivery.