Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2025 is made entirely from Gibbston fruit this vintage, bursting with ripe plum, dark cherry and a touch of cacao. Hawkshead call it "a cracker", and it was rated 94 POINTS by Candice Chow. A great wine for everyone who likes juicy, fruit-forward pinots that are delicious young.
In the glass it first reveals an underlying forest floor note and flickers of sweet spice, with a sliver of charred oak. On the palate the bright, dark fruit really comes alive: mouth-filling and lively, with silky tannins.
This is a wine for those of us who enjoy a generous Pinot Noir with plenty of personality that is ready to open now. It would pair well with a roast leg of lamb or duck breast, and it is a fantastic weekend wine.
What it tastes like
The wine has plenty of savoury detail beneath the fruit. Cameron Douglas, MS found a bold bouquet with an earthy baseline, then red berry fruits, red tea, preserved flowers, clove and dried herb on the palate, while Candice Chow described harmonious, broody aromas and a charming finish. It's delicious.
Style at a glance
- Body: mouth-filling, with lively fruit
- Acidity: fresh
- Tannin: silky and fine
- Oak: subtle, adding smoky tones without taking over
- Style: juicy, silky, savoury, approachable
Food to enjoy this with
- Lamb chops with rosemary
- Pan-roasted duck breast with plum sauce
- Mushroom and thyme risotto
- Roast pork belly
- Seared salmon with soy and ginger
- Something unexpected: a beetroot, walnut and goat cheese salad. The earthy beetroot picks up the forest floor note in the wine, and the bright fruit lifts the creamy cheese.
Who makes it
Hawkshead was founded in 2001 by Denis Marshall and Ulrike Kurenbach. Denis is a fourth-generation farmer, horticulturist and conservationist and one of the Gibbston Pinot Noir pioneers, and the name comes from his ancestor, naturalist William Swainson, who named his New Zealand homestead Hawkshead after settling here in 1841. Ulrike grew up in the Rhineland and brings degrees in food technology and in art and design, plus the WSET Diploma.
Hawkshead's vineyards sit between 350 and 400 metres above sea level, planted on wind-blown glacial deposits overlaid with free-draining alluvial schist. Dean Shaw is the winemaker, and the cellar door is at 2300 Gibbston Highway, in the Gibbston Valley near Queenstown.
For the 2025 vintage, the fruit came 100% from Gibbston, the coolest of Central Otago's sub-regions.
About the vintage
In her 2025 harvest report for Decanter, Emma Jenkins MW reported that spring frosts reduced yields in Central Otago and that the harvest was unusually compressed, running about half its usual length. Small, clean berries gave what local winemakers called tremendous concentration and colour, especially in Gibbston and Bendigo.
Critic scores and ratings
- 94 POINTS – Candice Chow – Candice Wine Chat
"Harmonious and broody aromas emerge with cocoa, herb and savoury spice, alongside silky tannins that round out a charming, compelling finish."
- 93 POINTS – Cameron Douglas, MS – camdouglasms.com, May 2026
"A bold and expressive bouquet of dark plums and black cherry, there’s a fine savoury quality aligned with an earthy baseline. Flavours of red berry fruits and red tea with fine tannins, a moderate impact of wood and smoky tones then some preserved flowers and clove, dried herb and stone. Well made, balanced and ready to drink from early 2027 through 2031+."
When to drink it
Hawkshead say it is immensely enjoyable right now and will keep evolving over the next 8+ years. Cameron Douglas, MS gives it a drinking window from early 2027 through 2031+, so it is the sort of wine you buy a case of: open some now and enjoy watching the rest develop.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Hawkshead |
| Wine: |
Central Otago Pinot Noir |
| Vintage: |
2025 |
| Variety: |
Pinot Noir |
| Region: |
Gibbston, Central Otago |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Cellaring: |
8+ years (Hawkshead) |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2025 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.
Questions we are often asked
Where are the grapes for Hawkshead Pinot Noir 2025 grown?
For 2025 the fruit came 100% from Gibbston in Central Otago, the region's coolest sub-region.
Is Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2025 ready to drink now?
Yes. Hawkshead say it is very enjoyable now and will continue to develop for 8+ years.
What does Hawkshead Pinot Noir 2025 taste like?
Expect ripe plum, dark cherry and cacao, with forest floor, sweet spice and silky tannins. Critics also found red tea, dried herbs and clove.
What food goes with Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir?
Hawkshead suggest lamb chops and duck breast. Mushroom dishes and roast pork also work well with its earthy, savoury side.
Where can I buy Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2025?
The Winery ships Hawkshead Central Otago Pinot Noir 2025 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
