Roaring Meg Pinot Noir: Reviews, Price & Ownership

There’s a Pinot Noir from Central Otago that keeps popping up on wine lists and retailer shelves — Mt Difficulty’s Roaring Meg. It earned 92 points from Master Sommelier Cam Douglas (Cam Douglas MS, New Zealand) and holds a 4.0 rating on Vivino, but recently it’s also been caught up in a bigger story about campaign donations and consumer boycotts.

Average Price: $24 (ex-tax) · Vivino Rating: 4.0 · Region: Central Otago, New Zealand · Vintage: 2022/2023 · Alcohol: 14% ABV · Oak Ageing: 10 months

Eight key specs define Roaring Meg Pinot Noir, and they paint a consistent picture of a cool‑climate Pinot.

Is Roaring Meg a good wine?

Tasting notes and flavor profile

• Cool‑climate character: red cherry, wild raspberry, subtle sweet spice (Wine Anorak, independent blog)
• Aged 10 months in French oak barrels for toasty complexity (Cam Douglas MS)
• Described as “balanced, well made, and ready to drink from day of purchase through 2028” (Cam Douglas MS)

User ratings and reviews

• Vivino shows over 650 mentions of red fruit notes and an average 4.0‑star rating
• 24 reviews indexed on The Real Review (The Real Review, wine rating platform)
• “Fresh, bright cherry and herb nose with juicy cherry‑driven palate” (2008 vintage, Wine Anorak)

Food pairing suggestions

• Pairs well with roasted chicken, grilled salmon, mushroom dishes, and mild cheeses
• Its moderate tannins and bright acidity make it a versatile table wine

The pattern: Roaring Meg overdelivers at its price point, offering a clear taste of Central Otago without the premium tag of single‑vineyard bottlings.

Who makes Roaring Meg wine?

Mt Difficulty Wines: the producer

• Produced and bottled by Mt Difficulty Wines in Central Otago (Mt Difficulty Wines, official site)
• Mt Difficulty is one of the larger wineries in the region (Reddit r/wine)
• Roaring Meg is positioned as the winery’s entry‑level label

Winemaking philosophy and vineyard sources

• Focus on “stylish, contemporary, vivacious, and approachable” wines (Mt Difficulty Wines)
• Fruit sourced from Central Otago vineyards at high altitude – cool nights preserve acidity

Location: Central Otago, South Island

• World‑renowned cool‑climate Pinot Noir region
• Latitude 45°S, producing intense, aromatic wines

The implication: Mt Difficulty’s scale means consistent quality – but also that Roaring Meg is the entry point, not the pinnacle.

Who owns Roaring Meg Winery?

Ownership of Mt Difficulty Wines

• Ownership is not widely publicised; no single individual is listed as a public face
• The brand belongs to the entity that operates Mt Difficulty Wines

Connection to Two Paddocks and Sam Neill

• Sam Neill founded Two Paddocks in 1993 – a separate brand with its own vineyards (Mt Difficulty Wines)
• No corporate link has been established between Two Paddocks and Mt Difficulty

Recent controversy: political donations to Trump

• Reports indicate a winery owner donated nearly $400,000 to Donald Trump, but the donation is not tied to Roaring Meg or Mt Difficulty specifically (San Francisco Chronicle, US newspaper)
• Some consumers have said they will boycott wines from owners who donate to Trump (VinePair, digital wine publication)
• No evidence directly implicates this wine brand (couch + cork)

The catch: without transparent ownership, the controversy will keep bubbling – and that uncertainty itself can influence buying decisions.

Does Sam Neill still own Two Paddocks?

Sam Neill’s wine venture: Two Paddocks

• Founded in 1993 by actor Sam Neill
• Produces single‑vineyard Pinot Noir from three estate vineyards

Current status of Two Paddocks ownership

• Sam Neill remains involved as of public updates in 2024 (Mt Difficulty Wines)
• No sale or handover has been reported

Relationship between Roaring Meg and Two Paddocks

• Two Paddocks is a distinct brand, not connected to Mt Difficulty
• Roaring Meg is often mistakenly thought to be owned by Neill because of his fame and the Central Otago connection

The implication: the confusion between these brands means Roaring Meg benefits from Neill’s halo – but it also risks guilt by association if political controversies surface.

What is the best local price for Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir?

Four price points for the same wine reveal a wide spread depending on where you buy and which vintage you choose.

Where to buy (online retailers)

• O’Briens Wine (Ireland), Majestic Wine (UK), Ellis Wines (UK) – listed as stockists
• Wine-Searcher shows availability across dozens of merchants

Price by vintage (2021 vs 2022 vs 2023)

• 2021: $28 from Foley; 2022: around $24 on Wine-Searcher; 2023: $24–$33 depending on retailer
• Biggest price gap between US ex‑tax average and Australian/importer pricing

The trade‑off: buying from a local retailer costs more but may offer fresher stock. Online aggregators give the lowest price but require shipping.

Clarity: confirmed vs unclear

Quotes from reviewers and retailers

“The cool climate Pinot Noir offers red cherry and wild raspberry fruit with a subtle sweet spice – a real favourite of ours.”

— Mt Difficulty Wines, official product description

“Fresh, bright cherry and herb nose with juicy cherry‑driven palate.”

— Wine Anorak, independent review

For buyers in the UK and Ireland, where Roaring Meg is most widely available through Majestic Wine and O’Briens, the choice is clear: if you are after a well‑priced, accessible Central Otago Pinot Noir, it delivers. But if the ownership controversy matters to you, consider seeking out vintages from before the donation reports or choose a producer with a fully transparent ownership structure.

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Frequently asked questions