Rippon

'Emma’s Block' Pinot Noir 2021

There are Pinot Noirs… and then there is Rippon.

From one of New Zealand’s most revered vineyards overlooking Lake Wānaka, ‘Emma’s Block’ is a single-parcel expression that captures both precision and soul. Named after the Mills family’s daughter, this wine is intimate, detailed, and quietly powerful.

The 2021 vintage is strikingly pure. Fragrant wild raspberry, red cherry and crushed rose petals lead, layered with thyme, graphite and that unmistakable schist-driven minerality that defines Rippon. The palate is silken yet structured - fine tannins, bright alpine acidity, and a long, savoury finish that hums rather than shouts.

This is Pinot with tension and grace. Ethereal but grounded. A bottle that rewards patience, decanting, and a proper Burgundy glass.

For lovers of nuanced, site-driven Pinot Noir - and for those who understand that some wines aren’t just drunk, they’re experienced.