Description

The grapes for this wine were generously donated by our friends and supporters among Marlborough’s grape growers.

Flavours and Aromas

This is a beautiful, bright, fruity style of Pinot Noir exuding delicious aromas of raspberry and strawberry, and complimented by a dash of sweet and spicy oak. The palate is energetic and brimming with red berry fruit and soft, supple tannins, perfectly seasoned with spicy oak to give light toasty notes and layers of depth and flavour. The finish is fresh, lingering and moreish.

Vineyards

The grapes for this wine are grown in selected sites across the Marlborough region, including in the Awatere Valley and sites in the Lower and Upper Wairau Valley.

Winemaking

The grapes were harvested at optimum flavour ripeness. The fruit from each vineyard was kept separate throughout the wine-making process, to ensure the integrity of each site and to provide the greatest possible blending combinations to the winemaker. The fruit was picked and put into open top fermenters then selected parcels underwent pre-ferment cold and warm soaking to enhance complexity. The fruit was inoculated with selected yeasts to heighten the unique aromas and flavours of each parcel. After fermentation, the wines remained on skins for an average of 11 days until tannin and natural fruit sweetness were in balance, before each parcel was drained and pressed off skins. The wine was then aged with French oak until ready for blending and filtration.

pH: 3.54

TA: 5.9g/l

RS: <0.5g/l

Food Pairing

Sticky BBQ short ribs.

Review

Beautifully fruited and elegantly expressed, the wine shows dark cherry, pomegranate, subtle spice and toasted almond notes on the nose, followed by a silky-smooth palate that’s succulent and finely flowing. Well framed by layers of polished tannins, finishing long and velvety. At its best: now to 2029. 93/100 & 5 Stars Wine Orbit – June 2024