Tasting Notes
The Fusilier Vineyard is named in honour of Sam's father, Major Dermot Neill, a soldier in the Royal Irish Fusilier Regiment for twenty years before returning home to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he ran the family Wine & Spirit business, Neill & Co. Planted entirely in 2000, The Fusilier is 5.6 hectares of Pinot Noir, on rolling northerly facing terraces at the western end of Felton Rd and bordered by the vineyard of the same name. Soils on the terraces consist of deep alluvial fans, which are made up of varying depths of silt, sand and gravel layering all derived from mountainous raw schist parent material.
- Winery Note
Two Paddocks is the Central Otago wine estate established in 1993 by actor Sam Neill, who set out with the modest goal of producing a small amount of world-class Pinot Noir. From the original vineyard at Gibbston, the estate has since expanded to include three other high-altitude sites in Alexandra and Bannockburn, all chosen for their ability to deliver wines of finesse, structure and longevity.
The vineyards are farmed organically, with certification across the estate, and each parcel is managed with great care to reflect the individuality of site and soil. Pinot Noir is the clear focus, though small amounts of Riesling are also produced.
Winemaking is deliberately restrained: hand-harvested fruit, gentle extraction, natural ferments where possible, and aging in carefully selected French oak. The resulting wines combine Central Otago’s natural vibrancy and purity of fruit with a subtle, old-world sensibility, making them among the region’s most respected and age-worthy bottlings.
Two Paddocks has become a benchmark for Central Otago, reflecting both a deep connection to the land and Sam Neill’s vision of wines that are elegant, authentic and unashamedly personal.
| Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Central Otago |
| Sub Region | Gibbston |
| Winemaking Practices | Conventional |
| Vineyard Practices | Organic/Biodynamic |