Loveblock Pinot Noir

Loveblock Pinot Noir is a 750ml, 13.5% ABV Central Otago Pinot Noir from New Zealand, wild-yeast fermented with whole berries. The 2021 vintage earned 93 points from Wine Spectator and a Double Gold medal at the Women's Wine & Spirit Awards, underscoring consistent critical recognition across multiple vintages.

Quick Facts: ABV: 13.5%  |  Origin: Central Otago, New Zealand  |  Pinot Noir  |  Winemaker: Kim Crawford

Production & Heritage

Loveblock is the passion project of renowned New Zealand winemaker Kim Crawford, sourcing primarily from the "Someone's Darling" vineyard on Bendigo Loop Road in Central Otago. The fruit — drawn from clones B777, B667, B115, Clone 5 (Pommard), and Abel — is machine harvested and pumped straight to tank without crushing, preserving whole berries that add structural complexity during a five-day cold soak. Fermentation kicks off on indigenous wild yeast with hand plunging twice daily until dry, a labor-intensive approach that coaxes nuanced extraction. Roughly 10% of the fruit comes from Loveblock's own farm in Marlborough, threading brighter red-fruit character through the darker Central Otago backbone. The vineyard entered organic conversion in March 2022, signaling a long-term commitment to sustainable viticulture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Ripe black cherry leads into mushroomy earthiness, followed by toasty oak spice and a lift of clove and cardamom. Beneath those warming spices sit quieter suggestions of vanilla and violet.

Taste: The entry is fleshy and fruit-forward — dark plum and maraschino cherry — before the mid-palate broadens with layers of sweet berry, cranberry tang, and savory herbal notes of thyme, rosemary, and fennel seed. Sandy, fine-grained tannins frame the fruit without overwhelming it, while mouthwatering acidity keeps everything taut and focused.

Finish: Medium-long and textured, with lingering mocha, baking spice, and a peppery herbal trail. Cola and cinnamon resurface late, giving a gently warming close.

How to Drink Loveblock Pinot Noir

Serve at 14–16°C (57–61°F). This Pinot rewards 20–30 minutes in a wide-bowled glass to let the aromatics fully unfurl; it drinks beautifully on its own but also has the structure for food pairing. A Pinot Noir Spritz — Pinot Noir topped with a splash of soda and an orange twist — plays to its bright acidity and cherry fruit. A classic Burgundy Kir, substituting this wine for red Burgundy with a touch of crème de cassis, amplifies its dark-berry depth. For a contemporary option, a red-wine Sangria built with fresh stone fruit, cinnamon stick, and a splash of brandy harnesses the wine's spice-driven profile.

Best For

• A dinner-party centerpiece alongside roasted duck or lamb
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who appreciates New Zealand terroir
• Exploring Central Otago Pinot Noir at a critically acclaimed entry point
• Celebrating a milestone with a sustainably farmed, award-winning bottle

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Loveblock Pinot Noir taste like? It leads with ripe black cherry and dark plum, layered with earthy mushroom, fresh herbs like thyme and rosemary, and warming baking spice. Fine sandy tannins and bright acidity give it a balanced, medium-bodied structure.

How does Loveblock Pinot Noir compare to Felton Road Pinot Noir? Both are Central Otago Pinot Noirs, but Felton Road sources exclusively from its own biodynamic Bannockburn vineyards, producing a more singular site expression. Loveblock blends roughly 10% Marlborough fruit into its Central Otago base, adding a red-fruit brightness that distinguishes it and positions it at a more accessible price tier.

Is Loveblock Pinot Noir good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its layered aromatics and balanced tannin structure make it an engaging stand-alone glass, especially after a brief rest in a wide-bowled glass at cellar temperature.

Where is Loveblock Pinot Noir made? The majority of the fruit comes from the "Someone's Darling" vineyard on Bendigo Loop Road in Central Otago, New Zealand, with approximately 10% sourced from Loveblock's own farm in Marlborough. Winemaking is overseen by Kim Crawford.

What foods pair well with Loveblock Pinot Noir? Roasted duck breast — the wine's dark cherry and spice echo the richness of the meat. Herb-crusted rack of lamb mirrors the thyme and rosemary aromatics. Pan-seared salmon with mushroom risotto plays to its earthy undertones. Aged Gruyère or Comté cheese highlights the savory, nutty finish. Beetroot and goat-cheese salad complements its bright acidity and red-fruit core.

What sizes does Loveblock Pinot Noir come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle.

Is Loveblock Pinot Noir worth the price? It positions as a mid-range Central Otago Pinot Noir, and the consistent 91–93 point scores from publications like Wine Spectator and James Suckling suggest strong quality-to-value standing within the region's competitive field.

Why Loveblock Pinot Noir?

Central Otago has earned its reputation as one of the world's elite Pinot Noir regions, yet many of its top bottles demand steep premiums. Loveblock delivers serious concentration — dark plum, mocha, herbal complexity — backed by the distinctive winemaking choice of whole-berry fermentation on wild yeast, a technique that builds aromatic depth without heavy-handed extraction. The blending of 10% Marlborough fruit is an uncommon move in the category, adding a red-fruit brightness that pure Central Otago bottlings often lack. Consistent recognition from Wine Spectator (93 points across multiple vintages) and the vineyard's transition to organic farming reinforce that this is a thoughtfully made wine punching above its weight class.