Terra Sancta Mysterious Diggings Pinot Noir 2024

#4 in James Suckling's 2025 Top 100 Wines of the World

You don't usually see the words "value" and "Bannockburn Pinot Noir" in the same sentence, but Terra Sancta seems to have cracked the code with this one. Sourced from their Mysterious Diggings vineyard - one of the highest sites in the famous Central Otago sub-region at 300 metres, this is the entry-level Pinot to get you into the world of Terra Sancta.

The vines were planted back in ’99 on the iconic Felton Road, so the pedigree is definitely there. The winemaking is pretty hands-off to let that fruit shine, using 100% wild yeast fermentation and gentle handling. It’s juicy and energetic with a bit of bramble spice and super soft tannins. It isn't trying to be a brooding blockbuster; it’s just pure, drinkable Central Otago Pinot on the fresher side.

There’s been some massive hype around this vintage - James Suckling dropped a huge score and ranked it his #4 wine in the world - which is honestly wild (and a little bewildering) for a wine at this price point. To be totally transparent, we wouldn't have it rated anywhere near that high (if we were to rate wines, which we don't), but we do think it's pretty snappy value for Central Otago Pinot. Whether you buy into the scores or not, it’s one of the best bang-for-your-buck Central Otago Pinots around.