Prophet’s Rock in Central Otago is one of New Zealand’s top wineries, excelling with Pinot Noir, Riesling and Pinot Gris
Website: https://www.prophetsrock.co.nz/
At wine Paris I caught up with Paul Pujol (pictured above) to taste through the new releases from Prophet’s Rock, one of the leading wineries in Central Otago, New Zealand.
I’ve written extensively about Prophet’s Rock here. Paul has an interesting background, and spent three years as chief winemaker at Kuentz Bas in Alsace before returning New Zealand to head up Prophet’s Rock. He’s taken this winery to new heights, and it’s in the peer group with the region’s best. Notable is the emphasis on Riesling: these are ageworthy and delicious, as is the Pinot Gris. But Pinot Noir is the star turn, and there are now a range of premium bottlings, including the François Millet collaboration.
Prophet’s Rock Retrospect White 2024 Central Otago, New Zealand
This is a blend of four Alsace grape varieties fermented together. Juicy, lively and expressive with great balance. Mineral with fine spices and some wet stone detail, showing such complexity and balance. 95/100
Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling 2023 Central Otago, New Zealand
From a single parcel with schist soils. Bright and expressive with a mineral streak and lovely balance. Textured citrus fruit, showing real drive but also generosity. 94/100
Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling 2016 Central Otago, New Zealand
Lively, vivid and bright with appealing citrus fruit and a stony, mineral edge. Very stylish, with nice weight. 94/100
Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris 2024 Central Otago, New Zealand
Complex and layered, this is dry but has some richness. Lovely depth and minerality, showing good weight in the mouth and finishes savoury. 93/100
Prophet’s Rock Pinot Gris 2010 Central Otago, New Zealand
Stony and mineral with wet stone and apple notes showing lovely depth. This is very stylish and is ageing beautifully. 93/100
Prophet’s Rock Antipodes Blanc 2022 Central Otago, New Zealand
This is the Chardonnay collaboration with François Millet of Comte de Vogüe in Burgundy. Complex, mineral and layered with freshness. Stony and vivid with lovely citrus fruit core. Very expressive. 95/100
Prophets Rock Pinot Noir Sophora 2023 Central Otago, New Zealand
This is from the valley floor on fine schist gravels. Juicy, stony and mineral with bright fruit and nice acidity. A multidimensional wine that’s stony and mineral and shows traces of iodine and blood savouriness. 94/100
Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Olearia 2023 Central Otago, New Zealand
Schist bedrock with some clay. Concentrated, stony and mineral. This shows real elegance to the cherry and berry fruit. Good structure. Such finesse here. 95/100
Prophet’s Rock Pinot Noir Home Vineyard 2023 Central Otago, New Zealand
Juicy and textural with ripe cherry and strawberry fruit, with a slight saline edge. Nice brightness and focus, but has a rich mid-palate. 95/100
Prophet’s Rock Antipodes 2022 Central Otago, New Zealand
The original collaboration wine with François Millet. Pinot Noir, made his way. So textural and fine with nice precision to the fruit and a saline twist on the finish. Nice density and structure with a purity and elegance, too. This is brilliant. 95/100
Prophet’s Rock Retrospect 2019 Central Otago, New Zealand
Nice depth here with a stony edge and some iodine notes. Grippy and textural with layers of flavour. Stony and mineral, this is developing nicely. 95/100
