Coal Pit Winery owners have announced they are planing a new wine hosting facility on site at the winery, which is situated up the winding, steep Coal Pit Road in the Gibbston Valley in Central Otago. The evocatively named winery's new tasting facility is scheduled to open in 2025 and will see the wine brand bring all of its wines home to its vineyard and winery rather than offering tastings at a shared facility called Kinross, also in the Gibbston Valley. 

I love the views across the valley from the elevated site at Coal Pit and look forward to seeing the new tasting room. In the meantime, here are three new releases, all bottled and scheduled for release throughout November. 

Here are my reviews. 

17.5/20
2023 Coal Pit Proprietor's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, RRP $45 RRP

Lovely fresh new release with a creamy mouthfeel and complex layers of flavour, offering characterful fresh green herb aromas, hints of crisp green apple and a smooth mouthfeel. This succulent Sauvignon Blanc is zesty and fresh with high acidity balanced by beautifully integrated lees work, adding weight and texture. Available now. 

17.5/20

2024 Coal Pit Pinot Noir Rosé RRP $38

This is a next level rosé; dry, clean and light bodied with depth of flavour, made entirely from Pinot Noir grown in Central Otago. Light skin contact provides a clean, bright but pale pink hue and aromas of summer berries - strawberries and raspberries - intermingle in this light bodied, intensely flavoursome wine with its long, fresh finish. 

Available from late end November. 

18.5/20

2022 Coal Pit Tiwha Pinot Noir RRP $73

Coal Pit Pinot Noir is a commanding and powerful wine made from an elevated small vineyard in the Gibbston Valley in Central Otago. Hand picked grapes were given 100% wild yeast fermentation with 20% whole bunch followed by 10 months ageing in 30% new French oak. It is a bold, incredibly youthful wine now with a deep ruby colour, dark earthy aromas and dry, full bodied flavours. Layers of red fruit and delicate fresh acidity suggest a wine with a long life, which will come into its own between five to six years from now - or be sure to decant, if enjoying it now or soon. 

Available from 1 November.

• Coal Pit winemaker Annika Willner won Riedel Award for Best Red Winemaker at the 27th Japan Wine Challenge.