Critic Scores:

98 – James Suckling

97 – Wine Enthusiast

95 – Cameron Douglas MS

93 – Erin Larkin, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

92 – Vinous

Issued from the collective voice of the estate’s fully developed, biodynamically grown vines on Lake Wānaka’s western board, this spectacular release acts as a complete encapsulation of Rippon's unique schist terroir. The 2019 growing season delivered a beautifully warm summer that yielded immensely harmonious, balanced fruit with an edge of raw, muscular energy.

Pouring a deep, luminous ruby red, the wine reveals an evolving, highly sophisticated bouquet that wanders between tight licorice, graphite, and light dried strawberry, underlined by blooming wildflowers and a distinctive iron character.

On the medium-bodied palate, an innate sense of poise and fresh acidity guides a linear flow of dark raspberry and spice. Its texture is deceptively supple at first before a rush of creamy, ultra-fine tannins asserts itself, creating a structural, wonderfully dusty finish that balances stone-driven minerality against pure varietal definition.

Serving as the primary critical reference for this landmark vintage, James Suckling awarded the wine an extraordinary 98 points, highly praising its linear tension and writing that it remains "firm and tight licorice, graphite, slate and light dried strawberry. Goes to iron."