Michael Cooper’s 2012 Wine Guide – Prophet’s Rock Reviews

The 20th Anniversary Edition of Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2012 has just been released. Prophet’s Rock has continued its great run of reviews from New Zealand’s most acclaimed wine writer.

That’s three vintages of Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir in a row to receive a 5-Star rating from Michael Cooper. This is a testament to the hard work put in by the vineyard crew at Prophet’s Rock’s two estate vineyards. The reviews are copied below, the Guide and further information are available through Michael Cooper’s Website.

Prophet’s Rock Central Otago Pinot Noir

The 2009 vintage (5-Stars) was estate-grown at Bendigo, in the Cromwell Basin, hand-picked, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques (35 per cent new.) Ruby hued, it is sweet-fruited and supple, with moderately concentrated cherry and spice flavours, showing good, savoury complexity, and a deliciously soft texture. Drink now or cellar.

Prophet’s Rock Central Otago Dry Riesling

The 2009 vintage (4.5-Stars) was estate-grown and hand-picked at Pisa, fermented with indigenous yeasts and lees-aged. Still very youthful, it is highly scented, with citrusy, slightly appley and spicy flavours, gentle sweetness (9 grams/litre of residual sugar), and excellent purity, delicacy, harmony and length.

Prophet’s Rock Central Otago Pinot Gris

The 2010 vintage (4-Stars) was estate-grown and hand-picked at Bendigo, in the Cromwell Basin. Medium to full-bodied, with stonefruit and spice flavours, it’s a finely balanced, medium-dry wine (12 grams/litre of residual sugar) with very good depth, texture and harmony.

Rocky Point Central Otago Pinot Noir

From Prophet’s Rock, the youthful 2010 vintage (3.5-Stars) was estate-grown at Bendigo and matured in French oak casks (20 per cent new.) Deep and youthful in colour, it’s a fruit-driven style, packed with cherryish, plummy, slightly herbal flavour, fresh, strong and smooth.