Having only been established as recently as 2oo2, Central Otago's Burn Cottage is already a New Zealand institution. Marquis & Dianne Sauvage purchased the unplanted property from sheep farmers and set to work planning their vineyard, which has been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and overlooked by head winemaker, Ted Lemon. Positioned in a sheltered bowl in the foothills of the dramatic Mount Pisa, it's a magnificent site for growing vines, and the quality of these wines well and truly speak for themselves.

The Moonlight Race Pinot Noir is a blend of two vineyards: The Burn Cottage vineyard, and the winery's more recently acquired Sauvage vineyard in Bannockburn. It's a lovely wine that embodies a more immediate and playful side of Central Otago Pinot Noir - though not without the complexity that Burn Cottage is known for. Redcurrant, black cherry, savoury herbs, and woody spices, with a touch of minty freshness and floral perfume. The tannins are firm and mouthcoating, though they're more gentle and supple than Burn Cottage's more structured Estate cuvée.