Since the change of ownership and consolidation of two different vineyard sites in Bendigo for Prophet’s Rock, the company has grown in stature such that the wines are becoming a phenomenon in the global Pinot Noir community. The main reason for this has been the joint venture of Prophet’s Rock winemaker Paul Pujol with Francois Millet, winemaker of Domaine Comte de Vogue in Chambolle-Musigny. The friendship grew from Paul working a vintage at the world-renowned Burgundy estate, and discussions led to Francois Millet coming to Central Otago to select fruit from the Prophet’s Rock ‘Home’ vineyard, vinify and blend a wine that is known as the ‘Cuvee Aux Antipodes’, first made in 2015. The wine is very individual and of very high quality. There have been successive vintages made.
However, it’s fair to say that Paul Pujol was already on a track of making Central Otago wines with a difference. His experience overseas has ingrained him with the adoption of techniques more commonly seen in Europe rather than in New Zealand. His white wines are indigenous yeast fermented and given extended aging on lees for greater textures and complexities. Observers and critics would say the Pinot Noirs are well-structured in the Burgundian model, rather than New World fruit-bombs. Yet, Paul takes a wide approach to making his wines, ensuring the ‘Rocky Point’ wines are more accessible than the ‘Home’ vineyard wines. Recently, he introduced the ‘Infusion’ Pinot Noir, made without the normal extraction from the grape skins in an attempt to gently capture the expression of pure fruit and the vineyards
Here I review a selection of new releases, the 2017 Pinot Gris, 2016 Dry Riesling, 2017 ‘Infusion’ and ‘Rocky Point’ Pinot Noirs, and the2015 ‘Home Vineyard’ Pinot Noir. www.prophetsrock.co.nz
