Double Gold Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show 2023
Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Deep ruby. Fragrant black cherry and rich plum fruit is subtly lifted by layers of dark red florals and complex savoury forest floor, dark chocolate, cigar box. The palate of this wine shows the concentration of the vintage. Pure flavours of ripe berry fruit and dark plum fill the pallet. This fruit is supported by powerful yet finely polished tannins giving a plush yet silky texture with seamless length.
The 2021 season was another amazing vintage. Regular winter rainfall and an unseasonably cold spring kept cropping levels very low. These cropping levels were some of the lowest ever seen in Marlborough. Summer was very dry but stayed relatively cool resulting in healthy vines with no disease or water stress. There was a slow progression into Autumn with a long drawn-out ripening period where the fruit reached optimum ripeness in perfect harvest conditions.
This wine was made with a minimalist philosophy, designed to reveal the characteristics of the grapes and the vineyard. The fruit was hand-harvested, hand-sorted, gently destemmed and gravity-fed to tank. Fermented with indigenous yeast from Auntsfield vineyard. Careful hand plunging was utilised to gently extract flavours and tannins from the skins. Maturation occurred in French oak barriques for approximately 10 months."
5 Stars Michael Cooper, November 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"This wine is a Potential Classic... Grown on north-facing slopes at Auntsfield, on the south side of the Wairau Valley, the very ageworthy 2021 vintage was hand-picked and matured for 10 months in French oak barriques. Deep, bright ruby, it is fragrant and mouthfilling, with deep, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, complex and finely structured. Concentrated, fresh, vibrant and savoury, with obvious cellaring potential, it's a top vintage of this label. Best drinking 2025+."
5 Stars & 95/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, June 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"The wine offers wonderful fruit purity with splendid complexity, showing Black Doris plum, blueberry, violet, clove and roasted nut aromas, leading to a concentrated palate delivering excellent depth and richness, while remaining elegant and stylish. Delectably appealing and engaging. At its best: now to 2031."
5 Stars 18.5+/20 (94/100) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, July 2022 (2021 Vintage)
"Deep ruby-red with a purple core, lighter on the rim. The nose is elegantly full, softy, penetrating aromas of plums, black cherries, interweave thyme, mint, spice and a hint of savoury element. Medium-bodied, aromas of plums and cherries show good ripeness and concentration, melded with thyme, earthy and hints of cinnamon and pepper. The wine has grounded energy and broadness on the palate, reflecting clay, earthy soil elements. Peppery, cinnamon warming spices linger with thyme to a long, fragrant finish. Lacy acidity flows harmoniously with sweet fruit; powdery fine tannins provide a refined structure. This savoury Pinot Noir possesses balanced, black fruit with a concentrated palate, earthy and spice elements on a refined palate. Match with pork cheek croquettes and duck breast over the next 6-8 years. Fruit from a single vineyard in the Southern Valleys, handpicked, hand-sorted, destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeast, aged in French oak barriques for 10 months."
Reviews for previous vintages below…
5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, July 2022 (2020 Vintage)
"Deeply scented pinot noir with cassis and floral/red rose aromas leading to similar flavours on the palate together with dark-fleshed plum, dark cherry and spicy, smoky oak. An impeccably balanced wine that can be enjoyed now but promises to deliver more with bottle age."