# Exceptional by Asda Central Otago Pinot Noir (2023)

- **Producer:** Asda
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** Central Otago, New Zealand
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €10
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, redcurrant, herbaceous, vanilla, cloves, cedar, mushroom, forest floor

## About this wine

Created for Asda's premium tier, this Central Otago Pinot Noir is contract-produced by an established family winery in New Zealand's South Island. Central Otago's cool inland climate and high altitude offer ideal conditions for ripening Pinot Noir while preserving acidity. Sourced from high-quality estate vineyards, this wine represents a collaborative effort to deliver benchmark regional quality at accessible pricing.

## Interesting facts

- Crafted under non-disclosure by a top family-owned estate in Central Otago.
- Awarded 92 points by Club Oenologique and 90 points by Decanter.
- Central Otago is the southernmost commercial wine-growing region in the world.

## Food pairing

The lively acidity and supple tannin structure of Central Otago Pinot Noir cut through rich meats like duck and game while seamlessly matching earth-forward ingredients like mushrooms and truffles.

## Wine making process

Grapes were harvested from family-owned Central Otago vineyards. Fermentation took place in temperature-controlled vessels to preserve fruit purity and freshness. The wine underwent partial aging with oak contact to add subtle spice and complexity without masking the core varietal character.