November 13, 2024
Rippon - Pure, Seductive, and Unadulterated Expression of Pinot
“Pure, seductive and unadulterated expression of Pinot.” - Vinous
Founded by the Mills family, Rippon Winery is a pioneering estate in Central Otago, New Zealand, with a history dating back to 1912 on the picturesque shores of Lake Wanaka. The modern era of winemaking began in the early 1980s, when the Mills family established Rippon as one of the region's first producers. Today, Nick Mills, along with his wife Jo, oversees the biodynamic vineyard, maintaining a philosophy that honours the land and reflects Central Otago’s unique terroir. Their restrained winemaking style emphasizes texture and subtlety, allowing the wines to showcase depth and complexity without overt intensity. The family’s commitment to sustainability and thoughtful viticulture has earned Rippon a reputation for producing wines that capture both the history and spirit of this extraordinary landscape.
Rippon Winery is run by the talented winemaker Nick Mills, who has worked at some of the finest wineries in the world. Mills' impressive CV includes stints at Comte Armand, Domaine de la Vougeraie, and Domaine JJ Confuron. His experience and expertise in the winemaking industry are reflected in Rippon's range of exceptional wines.
Rippon’s vineyards, situated on schist-rich soils along Lake Wanaka, benefit from Central Otago’s cool climate and diverse geology, which impart a distinctive mineral quality to the wines. The Rippon Tinker's Field and Emma's Block Mature Vine Pinot Noirs exemplify the unique terroir of these parcels. Tinker’s Field offers a powerful, layered expression with greater depth and structure, reflecting its mature vines and complex vineyard site. Emma's Block, meanwhile, provides a more open, expansive character with soft elegance, showcasing the vineyard’s gentler personality. Both wines represent Rippon’s dedication to mature-vine selections, where vines must be at least 15 years old before being considered, resulting in Pinot Noirs that are elegant, quietly intense, and expressive of Central Otago’s landscape.
The 2017 vintage was arguably Rippon’s breakout year, receiving very high scores from Master of Wine Rebecca Gibb of Vinous. These wines showcase a harmonious balance of fruit purity and structural complexity, drawing on the unique qualities of schist soils and the cool climate of Lake Wanaka. The Tinker’s Field Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2017 scored 97-points whilst the Emma’s Block was one point behind with 96 points.
Both wines are in stock and available for immediate delivery, offering outstanding value with our mailing list special offer.
Rippon Tinker's Field Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2017
97 Points | Vinous, Rebecca Gibb
It might not be as so open and welcoming as the estate’s other single-parcel Pinot, Emma's, but there are hidden depths, layering and a little more power here. You can expect plentiful concentration in this elegant and silken Pinot. It combines intensity with delicacy in a light-bodied and focused package, and reflects the cooler season with its mouthwatering freshness on the finish. There’s a festive element in terms of flavor: Christmas spices meet plums as well as violets, red cherries and garrigue. There's a fine tow of acid, and gentle tannin that has a fine stone-licking texture, providing interest on the lengthy and sinewy finish.
Rippon Emma Block Mature Vine Pinot Noir 2017
96 Points | Vinous, Rebecca Gibb
A pure, seductive and unadulterated expression of Pinot, offering a mix of herbs including rosemary and thyme alongside red cherry fruit. A finely crafted wine that expands gently in the mouth but retains a transparency and sense of lightness on its feet. Complete and satisfying, with a lick of integrated cedar oak on the finish, where gentle, fine tannins provide tender grip. Excellent balance and a sense of calm and charm. A little more length wouldn't be unwelcome, just to take it into the realms of near-perfect.