Editors notes
The foundation of this wine is our focus on delivering low-yielding concentrated fruit that expresses our vineyard. In the winery, we employ traditional old world techniques; the grapes are handled gently and the wines are fermented using only the indigenous yeast from the vineyard.
The wines are aged in barrel for 15-18 months before being bottled unfiltered, and are cellared before release. Since the first release in 2005, the Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir has consistently been one of the best-reviewed Pinot Noirs in New Zealand.
Cellaring will reward collectors over the next 10+ years from vintage.
Deep red colour with a good tint of purple and a reserved, slightly shy bouquet, which reveals some oak and earthy, dried herb and other savoury aspects. Dark cherry and liqueur-cherry grew the longer it was in the glass. The palate is likewise, big and bold and loaded with tannin and grip, dense, concentrated flavour, with a solid tannin finish which leaves a chewy after-impression. Very good, a wine that will reward cellaring and drink best with protein-rich foods. It has a lot of grip and body and potential.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Alcohol Percentage
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Earthy
- Herbal
- Red Fruits
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Palate
- Cedar
- Red Cherry
- Strawberry
Food Pairings
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Fish -
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Poultry
Critic Scores & reviews
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Huon Hooke
95"Deep red colour with a good tint of purple and a reserved, slightly shy bouquet, which reveals some oak and earthy, dried herb and other savoury aspects. Dark cherry and liqueur-cherry grew the longer it was in the glass. The palate is likewise, big and bold and loaded with tannin and grip, dense, concentrated flavour, with a solid tannin finish which leaves a chewy after-impression. Very good, a wine that will reward cellaring and drink best with protein-rich foods. It has a lot of grip and body and potential."
Other vintages
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Locations
New Zealand
The New Zealand wine industry is one of the younger wine regions in the world, whose popularity grew immensely when Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the world wine scene, quite unique in style when compared to the typical French Sancerre.
Wine is successfully cultivated on both the North and South islands from a latitude of 36 degrees in the North to 45 degrees for the most southerly wine region in the world, the South Island's Central Otago. The majority of regions are located in free-draining alluvial valleys except for Waiheke Island and Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago and benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate as no vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean. With plentiful sunshine hours and cool evening sea breezes, the grapes thrive.
Sauvignon Blanc is the major white variety people will think of when you mention New Zealand Whites, however fantastic Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and less commonly Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Blanc. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand although Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Bordeaux Blends), Syrah are also grown and in even smaller amounts, Tempranillo and Montepulcianos can too be found. Sparkling wines of very high standards are also made in New Zealand.
The key wine regions in New Zealand include Auckland, Canterbury, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Central Otago
Central Otago, located at the southernmost point of the world where wine grapes are grown, is a remarkable wine-growing region that spans over 4,000 square kilometers on New Zealand’s South Island. This spectacular landscape is surrounded by rugged mountains, glacial lakes, and wide-open valleys, which have earned the region a reputation as one of the most scenic wine destinations in the world.
The region is centered around the bustling tourist hub of Queenstown, which is an ideal base to explore the many world-class wineries and vineyards that dot the countryside. The unique soils in Central Otago are characterized by heavy mineral deposits in silt loams that are unlike any other region in New Zealand, resulting in wines with distinctive flavor profiles and complex structures.
Central Otago is New Zealand's only "continental" wine-growing region, which means it experiences greater diurnal temperature fluctuations than any other region in the country. These large swings between low and high temperatures create ideal conditions for growing Pinot Noir, the flagship red varietal of the region. The long, cool, and dry autumn period also plays a significant role in producing some of the world's best Pinot Noirs, which are known for their fragrant aroma, silky texture, and true fruit intensity.
In addition to Pinot Noir, Central Otago is also renowned for its aromatic whites, particularly Riesling, which can be made in styles ranging from bone-dry to very sweet. Gewurztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay are also produced to a very high standard, reflecting the region's diverse terroir and the skill of its winemakers.
Central Otago's exceptional wines have earned it a place in Jancis Robinson's top five New World wine-producing regions, cementing its status as one of the most exciting and unique wine destinations in the world. With its awe-inspiring natural beauty, welcoming wineries, and world-class wines, Central Otago is a must-visit destination for any wine lover.
Bendigo NZ
Bendigo is a subzone in the eastern portion of the Central Otago wine region on New Zealand’s South Island, about 55 kilometres from the tourist adventure hub of Queenstown. Bendigo’s focus is primarily Pinot Noir, as its dry, stony, mineral-rich soils and semi-arid climate – with hot sunny days, cool nights, and long, dry autumns – are well-suited for growing and ripening this grape. Bendigo Pinot Noirs have a reputation as powerful expressions of this wine, boasting strong tannins and rich, concentrated flavours. In addition to Pinot Noir, the subzone also grows Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Chardonnay. As the area is hot enough to ripen Syrah, some producers are also beginning to experiment with growing this grape.
About the brand Prophets Rock
Two vineyards were established in the Bendigo sub-region: The Prophet’s Rock Home Vineyard and, subsequently, the Rocky Point. Both are steep and elevated, and each is distinctive – The Home Vineyard with its rare mix of soils, including schist, clay and chalk, and Rocky Point with its stony ground and almost treacherous slopes.
Step into the winery though and it's almost like stepping into one of the old houses of Europe. Winemaker Paul Pujol refined his trade working in France’s classical wine regions, the Languedoc, Sancerre and, crucially, Burgundy and Alsace. His traditional aesthetic — respectful, patient, vineyard-focused – resonates in the Prophet’s Rock wines, and frees them to express the uniqueness of the individual terroirs.
The Prophet’s Rock philosophy centres around combining both the old world and the new; “past and present unified by place”. Prophet’s Rock are also committed to sustainable wine production with the vines sitting comfortably in the natural environment that surrounds them. Prophet’s Rock is also a member of Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand.
With the vineyard producing low yield yet highly concentrated flavourful fruit, their efforts truly shine in the vineyard with harvesting undertaken completely by hand.
Their Pinot Gris and Riesling are slowly and gently whole-bunch pressed, followed by long slow ferments in barrel and aging on yeast lees prior to bottling before the next harvest. The Pinot Noir requires minimal extraction due to the extraordinary concentration of the fruit, and is fermented using only indigenous yeast from the vineyard. In barrel, the wines go through spontaneous malolactic fermentation and extended élevage. In the case of Prophet’s Rock, our Pinot Noir is bottled unfiltered and cellared before release.
"When we founded Prophet’s Rock in 1999, our goal was to find sites in Central Otago like no others. Two vineyards were established in the Bendigo sub-region: The Prophet’s Rock Home Vineyard and, subsequently, the Rocky Point. Both are steep and elevated, and each is distinctive – The Home Vineyard with its rare mix of soils, including schist, clay and chalk, and Rocky Point with its stony ground and almost treacherous slopes.
In the winery, though, we find our muses in the old houses of Europe. Winemaker Paul Pujol refined his trade working in France’s classical wine regions, the Languedoc, Sancerre and, crucially, Burgundy and Alsace. His traditional aesthetic — respectful, patient, vineyard-focused – resonates in our wines, and frees them to express the unique tenor of our sites." - Prophet's Rock
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