Two Paddocks - The Major General Pinot Noir 2021 (750ml)
Two Paddocks - The Major General Pinot Noir 2021 (750ml)
Couldn't load pickup availability
Tasting Notes
Both a reflection of the 2021 Central Otago vintage and a celebration of our three great single vineyards. Aromatics of blackberries and violets. Medium bodied with bright freshness and elegant precision.
About the Wine
Founded in 1993 by the proprietor, Sam Neill, Two Paddocks consists of four small estate vineyards in Central Otago. Typically, these sites are blended to produce the flagship Two Paddocks Estate Pinot Noir. However, in outstanding seasons, winemaker Dean Shaw also crafts a limited top tier barrel selection and creates an ‘uber Two Paddocks’. Sam has named this rare Central Otago combination, The Major General, in remembrance of his Great Grandfather, Brigadier General Charles Triscott, CMG DSO CB.
“My Great-Grandfather served most of his life in India and took part in the relief of Khandahar and the conquest of Burma. He looked staunchly formidable with his handle bar moustache and my Grandfather had to pluck up his courage and ask for his beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage. He also loved to entertain and I like to think he would have enjoyed this assemblage named in his honour.” - Sam Neill, Proprietor
Private Paddock, Club Member Tim Love commented "...truly the best Pinot I have ever tasted. It was well worth waiting for. Very complex but still with heaps of red fruit."
Vintage Comments
Vintage 2021 was characterised by climatic variation extremes throughout spring and early summer and then developing into a fantastic finish, with a long stable mid-summer / autumn warm period, right up to and over harvest. At the start of the season, a cold winter continued into a dry warm spring with steady vine shoot growth.
The grapes flowered over Dec 2020, which was warmer than last year but with intermittent rain that resulted in only half the vineyard blocks achieving desired crop loads. The first week of January saw a significant rain event and that set the vineyards up with optimum soil moisture levels for the rest of the season. There was some typical early and late in the season frost fighting, but the vine canopies stayed resilient and green with harvest staring a week earlier than typical on the 30th of March and finishing on the 22nd April.
A blend of three sub-regions, Alexandra 19%, Gibbston 39% and Bannockburn 42%. Hand harvested and sorted, 62% whole bunch pressed. The wine had 12 months of elevage (post fermentation maturation) in French oak barrique, 24% new wood, before being blended and then spent a further 6 months maturing in stainless steel before bottling.
PH Level 3.5
Total Acidity 5.9g/l
Alcohol 13%
Bottled February 2022
Cellaring 2024-2032
Winemaker Dean Shaw
Viticulturist Mike Wing
Total Production 100 cases
Reviews & Awards
Huon Hooke, The Real ReviewSeptember 2024
93 Points
Medium-deep red-purple colour, thinning towards the rim; there are smoky charcuterie and vegetal/stemmy characters, char-oak, a suggestion of humus, while the palate is rather firm and angular, closing with grippy tannins. A bunchy style which needs protein-rich food, and would benefit from more time. Drinking 2025 - 2036
Susy Atkins, DecanterJune 2024
97 points
Named for Neill’s great-grandfather, this is the inaugural release of a premium selection from the Fusilier, First Paddock and Last Chance vineyards, which represent the region’s three main valleys. Rounded, ripe, loaded with fleshy, bright ripe strawberry. Supple tannins, an oak veneer and both herbal and pepper twists. Built to age.
Jancis Robinson MW, The Financial Times January 2024
17 Points
Blend mainly from Bannockburn and Gibbston, with about one-fifth from Alexandra in the south of Central Otago. This is apparently winemaker Dean Shaw's idea of the perfect blend. Racy and mineral. Admirably fresh! Drinking 2023 - 2032
James Suckling January 2024
95 Points
Aromas of black berries, brambles and violets followed by kola nuts, cloves, and a touch of caramel and toasty notes. Medium-bodied, bright acidity with yet compressed tannins. Elegant and precisely framed wine. From organically grown grapes. Needs a couple of years to open. Screw cap.
Shipping & Delivery Policy
Shipping & Delivery Policy
Our Shipping & Delivery Policy
Yiannis Wine ships orders through FedEx. The shipping fees vary depending on where in the U.S your shipment is going. For any questions or concerns regarding shipment pricing and restrictions please feel free to contact us directly. We are able to ship to all but the following states: Utah, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. With some of these states, for example Alabama, we are able to ship to an ABC store nearest to you.
It is rare to have a shipment damaged during shipping, however, in the event you do receive a damaged delivery, please let us know. We will need pictures and proof of damage so that we can resolve your claim. Damaged claims will not be accepted without proof. We will replace the wine or issue a credit. The choice is yours!
Deliveries that contain alcohol REQUIRE AN ADULT SIGNATURE. You must be 21 or older to purchase and accept said deliveries.
We cannot ship to PO Boxes, APO/FPO addresses, or internationally.
Shipping fees are not refundable under any circumstances.
There is an additional charge to re-route orders already in transit.
Some items are removed from original packaging, and placed in protective shipping containers to ensure safe delivery.
While most orders are shipped the day they are placed. The demand for limited supplies will occasionally deplete our stock of a paticular product, in this case it will generally take an additional 1 - 2 business days to receive the product and fufill the order.
Although it is rare, if there was a packing error, we would like to resolve it for you! In the event that we shipped an incorrect item, we may ask you to hold on to those items and the exsisting packaging so that we can arrange for a return pick up. If you find that items are missing from your order, we are happy to assist you in reshipping the missing items or processing a credit for the missing item/items. We will provide a return label for incorrect items and credit will be processd upon the return of the item to the warehouse. Reshipment of the correct items will be at no extra charge.
Occasionally a chosen vintage of a wine may sell out or be replaced by a new release after your order is placed. Bottles of wine that are under $20, will not hold up an order and we will simply automatically substitute the wine with the comparable vintage. Please be assured that we will only substitute with a vintage for the same wine. Wine that is valued more than $20 per bottle, we will attempt to contact the customer. After two attempts, the available vintage will be automatically shipped out. (The return policy of $15 return shipping costs, and 15% restocking fee will be enforced.)
Yiannis Wine will not be held liable for damages to orders due to weather conditions during shipping. Potential exposure to extreme heat or cold may damage items during shipping. As we can not be held responsible for products damaged due to weather, we suggest you choose FedEx Express to ship your items and/or add ice packs to your order (during extreme heat) to help prevent damages. We can also place your orders on weather hold until weather conditions improve. Wine is usually fine if it is exposed to some heat (as that is the way wine is made.....Heated so the yeast is activated). If your wine is warm, please place them in a cool, dark room so the wine can "settle."
Most returns will be accepted, but ALL bottles must be returned to get credit. A half bottle or empty bottle of something that did not taste GOOD is fine to return, but the customer will not receive full credit if the bottle is not included.
Sometimes an order is returned to our warehouse after several delivery attempts at the address provided by the customer. We are happy to reship the order however, reshipment fees will apply. Please contact us and we will assist you with the reshipment arrangements.
We are happy to assist with any returns for items purchased that you no longer want or need. Please let us know and we will arrange for the return and issue a credit or refund for your returned items, less the return shipping and handling charges.
We offer some of the most diverse wines in the business, and we are happy to help you choose wines and provide recommendations by our sommeliers if you desire. Everyone has different tastes and Yiannis Wine will not be held responsible for customer choice. While ratings, testimonials, and reviews may influence your decision, the ultimate judgement is yours.
Share

Add Ice Packs to keep your wine cool in transit!

Your premier source
For wines both well-known and eclectic,
We showcase a collection of 10,000+ wines from
some of the world's most prized growing regions!
Looking for something not listed?
Call us at: (757) 498-9463
or
Text us at: (757) 559-0146