Exclusive Release: Two Paddocks The Major General Pinot Noir 2023
The release of the 2023 comes just weeks after the passing of the proprietor and actor, Sam Neill.
This is a wonderful encapsulation and distillation of the vintage conditions. Dark blackcurrant, violet and warm spice, leading into a rich, plush palate with elegance, concentration and depth. It is a wine that asks for time. Pour a glass before dinner and watch it slowly unfold through the evening.
Proudly named after Sam's great-grandfather, Major General Charles Triscott CMG DSO CB—a veteran of the Relief of Kandahar and the Conquest of Burma—this wine honours a man from another era. Now it is also a wine to honour Sam.
While his military achievements were remarkable, it was perhaps his love of bringing people together that inspired this wine most. Before his passing, Sam commented, "He also loved to entertain and I like to think he would have enjoyed this assemblage named in his honour."
Rather than celebrating a single vineyard, The Major General embraces an assemblage—a philosophy Two Paddocks has championed since the beginning. Never afraid of the conversation between single-site expression and blending across vineyards, we have always believed there is another story worth telling.
Each vintage is crafted from the finest barrels selected across our three single vineyards in Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn and Alexandra. Spanning more than 80 kilometres, these remarkable sub-regions each contribute their own distinct soils, elevations and microclimates, creating a wine that offers a richer, more complete expression of Central Otago than any one vineyard could alone.
The 2023 release is a wonderful encapsulation and distillation of the vintage conditions. Dark blackcurrant, violet and warm spice, leading into a rich, plush palate with elegance, concentration and depth. It is a wine that asks for time. Pour a glass before dinner and watch it slowly unfold through the evening.
Following the success of the inaugural 2021 release, awarded 97 points from Decanter Magazine, this third release continues the story of a highly anticipated wine.
“Rounded, ripe, loaded with fleshy, bright ripe strawberry. Supple tannins, an oak veneer and both herbal and pepper twists. Built to age.”
97 points Susy Atkins, Decanter | June 2024
“Precise, well defined and engaging, with aromas of strawberries, dried herbs, earth and baking spices…”
James Suckling, 95 Points, Oct 2025
