Kahiwi Cuvée Stella Pinot Noir 2021 by Kahiwi in Central Otago’s Mount Pisa is a deeper, more brooding counterpoint to Madeline, shaped by clay–dominant soils for serious depth and structure. This Cuvée Stella 2021 draws on older vines across multiple clones, naturally fermented with about 13% whole bunch and given 22 days on skins before 12 months in French oak and demi–muids (27% new), delivering power, texture and length.

On the nose it’s dark, complex and youthful: spicy blackberry, black raspberry and ume plum, layered with ripe strawberry and raspberry, dried tobacco, cinnamon, earthy notes and a faint autumn–leaf savouriness. The palate is medium–plus in body yet beautifully poised, with masses of dark and red fruits soaking into the palate over considerable but polished tannic “architecture”, fresh acidity and a long, resonant finish that tastes younger than its age. It’s a serious, powerful pinot built to reward cellaring through 2037.

On the table, reach for roast lamb, duck, venison backstrap or mushroom and thyme pie, where that fruit weight, spice and tannin really shine. It’s also superb with charcuterie, truffled cheeses or a rich porcini risotto, making Kahiwi Cuvée Stella 2021 a compelling choice for pinot lovers who like their Central Otago with gravitas and a Burgundian sense of shape.