ESCARPMENT KIWA PINOT NOIR 2021

Winery notes (2021 Vintage)
"Fruit from an established vineyard, grown on the famous alluvial terrace – a quintessentially Martinborough Pinot Noir, with classic savoury characters, lifted spice and supple tannin.

The Kiwa vineyard tends to exhibit complex savoury notes, of bay laurel, green tea and Chinese five spice. These are underpinned by an array of red fruits such as raspberry, sour red cherry and red currant, that sit amidst lifted and floral perfumed notes. The savoury complexity continues through the palate, with a wine that offers both grace and presence. It is bright and expressive with incredible buoyancy, thanks to the taut focus and firm tannins. This helps to tighten the structure giving one confidence to cellar for at least 10 years."

5 Stars & 96/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, April 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"Grown on Martinborough’s highly-regarded alluvial terrace to give a mix of savoury and fruit flavours with the sort of structure that makes it both accessible and ageworthy. Intense, ripe, red-fleshed plum, dark cherry/berry, anise and oak spice flavours. Accessible yet structured pinot noir with obvious cellaring potential. A classic Martinborough wine in form and flavour profile."

Rated Outstanding & 95/100 Cameron Douglas MS, July 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"Fabulous bouquet, luxurious and complex, new and youthful. Aromas of dried herbs wrapped in red berry fruits, there’s a savoury quality with contrasting scents of dark cherry and black currants, there’s also a floral quality with pressed dark roses and core of stones and clay. Firm and dry with lots of texture and spice, barrel smoke and newish wood flavours. Tannins are ripe and firmly textured, acidity pulls all the elements together and carries them throughout the palate. Delicious, taut and youthful a wine that will benefit from cellar time. Best drinking from 2026 through 2036."

95/100 David Walker Bell, WineFolio.co.nz, July 2023 (2021 Vintage)
"The Kiwa vineyard is planted on the Martinborough Terrace alluvial gravels, in the Martinborough township, and is usually the first pick for Escarpment in any vintage. The perfume is distinctive, with a waft of whole-bunch influenced spice and dried flowers on the nose. Perhaps the most graceful of the single vineyard expressions, with waves of juicy acidity and walking a tightrope where the balance of ripeness, savoury character, firm tannin and spicy oak all merge into an elegant harmony. This can sometimes take time to deliver, and whilst the 2021 wine has plenty of tense energy, the focus is already set. This is drinking beautifully now, with even more potential for future development."