The Fusilier vineyard is named in honour of Sam Neill's father, Major Dermot Neill — a soldier in the Royal Irish Fusiliers for twenty years before returning to Dunedin to run the family Wine & Spirit business, Neill & Co. Planted entirely in 2000, its 5.6 hectares of Pinot Noir sit on rolling, northerly-facing terraces at the western end of Bannockburn's Felton Road. Dark blackberry, brooding whole-bunch spice and dried-herb aromatics announce the 2022.
The terrace soils are deep alluvial fans — silt, sand and gravel over raw schist parent material — lending the wine a mineral spine. Picked at 23.6 Brix on 28–29 March, the hand-sorted fruit was given an 82% whole-bunch indigenous ferment over a long 34 days (including an eleven-day cold soak), then matured twelve months in French barriques (23% new, the balance in one- and two-year-old wood) with a light filtration before bottling. Just 365 cases were made. The palate is warm and richly covered with well-integrated oak, threaded with elegance and carried by resolved, persistent tannins.
Our Personal Take
One of Two Paddocks' rare single-vineyard bottlings, made only in exceptional vintages — and the family history behind the name is real. Structured, savoury and mineral, the 2022 is built for the table now and the cellar later.
Perfect Pairing: Roast lamb or duck, venison, or hearty mushroom and game dishes.
The Fine Pinot Team
Winemaking & Terroir
Region
Central Otago — Bannockburn
Vineyard
The Fusilier (planted 2000, 5.6 ha)
Soil
Deep alluvial fans over raw schist
Clones
85% clone 115, 7.5% 667, 7.5% 10/5
Farming
Certified Organic | Vegan
Fermentation
82% whole bunch, 11-day cold soak, wild yeast
Maturation
12 months French barriques (23% new)
Alcohol
13.0% | pH 3.55 | TA 5.9 g/L
Production
365 cases | Screw cap
Cellaring
2025–2033
Current Vintage : 2022*
We aim to supply the vintage shown. If a vintage rollover occurs, our cellar team will contact you to confirm before dispatch.
Order Cutoff Time 10.00 AM(GMT+10) Australian Eastern Standard Time (Melbourne)
| Rate | Condition | Price |
| Standard (1-5 Bottles) | $0.00 - $349.99 | $20.00 AUD |
| Standard (6-11 Bottles) | $0.00 - $349.99 | $15.00 AUD |
| Free Delivery For Over $350 | $350.00 And Up |
Free |
| Free Shipping on 12 Bottles | 12 bottles or more |
Free |
| Split Packaging Surcharge |
13-16 or 25-28 bottles (Orphan bottles requiring a 2nd box) |
+$10.00 AUD |
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