Bracken's Order 'Sleeping Nun' Pinot Noir 2023 is a single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Bendigo in Central Otago, New Zealand. The wine has dark plum, blueberry and thyme aromas, a plush palate and finely integrated tannins, and Wine Orbit rated it 95 POINTS. It suits anyone who wants Pinot Noir with richness and structure.
Pour a glass and the aromas on the nose come up ripe and dark: plum and blueberry first, then florals, a sprig of thyme and a hint of hazelnut. On the palate it is plush and concentrated, and the tannins (the grippy, drying part of a red wine) are fine enough that it stays supple.
It is a good Friday night dinner wine for someone who likes their Pinot Noir generous rather than delicate. Bracken's Order limits each vintage to 720 bottles, so this is a small release.
It is a single-vineyard Pinot Noir from Bendigo, one of the areas of Central Otago that Jancis Robinson's 2023 vintage report singled out as an early-ripening part of the region. The label is named after Hugh Bracken, a police officer who arrived in Arrowtown in 1862, so it has a local story behind it.
What it tastes like
Sam Kim of Wine Orbit describes the wine as wonderfully ripe and complex. The aromas on the nose are dark plum and blueberry, with rich floral character, thyme and hazelnut.
The palate has excellent concentration and a plush texture. The tannins are finely integrated, so the wine feels both structured and supple. The finish is prolonged, and Sam Kim calls it delectable.
Give it some air by swirling it in the glass, or pour it into a decanter for a while before serving, and the layers of fruit open up.
Style at a glance
- Body: concentrated, with a plush texture
- Sweetness: dry
- Tannin: fine and well integrated
- Style: ripe, plush, complex, structured, supple
Food to enjoy this with
This is a wine best enjoyed with great food. Good matches include:
- Roast duck with a cherry sauce
- Herb-crusted lamb rump
- Roast chicken with thyme, which picks up the thyme in the wine
- Mushroom risotto
- Venison or slow-cooked beef cheeks
- Grilled salmon: the wine's fine tannins are gentle enough for an oily fish, and the plum and blueberry fruit suits the rich flesh
Who makes it
Bracken's Order is named after Sergeant Major Hugh William Bracken, who arrived in Arrowtown in 1862 as a member of the Otago Mounted Police. In 1863 he co-founded the Queen's Arms Hotel with William Rees. That hotel is now Eichardt's Hotel on the Queenstown waterfront.
The wines come from a single vineyard in Bendigo, Central Otago. Each vintage is limited to 720 bottles.
About the vintage
Jancis Robinson's Central Otago 2023 vintage report, published in May 2023, described a dry lead-up to harvest. Just 44.4 mm of rain fell from December to mid-February, and the report noted some drought stress in places.
Late in the season a cold snap brought several frosts, one of them reasonably serious at -5°C in some places. Harvest stretched well into late April.
The report expected the best wines from early-ripening areas such as Bendigo and from the lower-cropping parts of Bannockburn.
Critic scores and ratings
- 95 POINTS – Sam Kim – Wine Orbit, March 2025
"Wonderfully ripe and complex, the bouquet shows dark plum, blueberry, rich floral, thyme, and hazelnut aromas. The palate delivers excellent concentration and plush texture, combined with finely integrated tannins, making it both structured and supple, with a prolonged, delectable finish. At its best: now to 2035.". Rated 5 stars.
When to drink it
Wine Orbit's Sam Kim suggests it will be at its best from now until 2035. Bracken's Order has not published its own cellaring recommendation.
Technical details
| Winery |
Bracken's Order |
| Wine |
'Sleeping Nun' Pinot Noir |
| Vintage |
2023 |
| Variety |
Pinot Noir |
| Region |
Bendigo, Central Otago |
| Country |
New Zealand |
| Bottle size |
750 ml |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Bracken's Order 'Sleeping Nun' Pinot Noir 2023 is available via our winenz.com website. For delivery in New Zealand you can purchase from thewineryonline.co.nz. If you are visiting New Zealand, you can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine.
Questions we are often asked
What does Bracken's Order Sleeping Nun Pinot Noir 2023 taste like?
Wine Orbit's Sam Kim found ripe plum and blueberry fruit with floral, thyme and hazelnut aromas. Sam Kim describes a plush, concentrated palate with fine tannins.
How was Bracken's Order Sleeping Nun Pinot Noir 2023 rated?
Sam Kim of Wine Orbit gave it 95 POINTS and 5 stars in March 2025.
How long can I keep Bracken's Order Sleeping Nun Pinot Noir 2023?
Sam Kim of Wine Orbit says it is at its best from now until 2035. Bracken's Order has not published its own cellaring advice.
Who is Bracken's Order named after?
It is named after Sergeant Major Hugh William Bracken, who arrived in Arrowtown in 1862 as a member of the Otago Mounted Police and co-founded the Queen's Arms Hotel in 1863.
How many bottles of Bracken's Order are made each year?
Bracken's Order limits each vintage to 720 bottles.
Where can I buy Bracken's Order 'Sleeping Nun' Pinot Noir 2023?
The Winery ships Bracken's Order 'Sleeping Nun' Pinot Noir 2023 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. It is also available in our Queenstown and Arrowtown stores.
