TERRA SANCTA SLAPJACK PINOT NOIR 2024

Winery notes (2024 Vintage)
"A highly perfumed, layered nose of blackberry, blueberry and dried strawberry unfolds with pomegranate, bramble, licorice, thyme, exotic spice and orange peel. Intense and complex, the palate reveals black cherry and crushed strawberry interwoven with warm spice, star anise and a deep mineral seam of crushed rock and earth. Powerful yet composed, the wine carries beautifully integrated tannins and a lively line of acidity that bring both tension and precision. The finish is long and resonant, a strong mineral thread sustaining fruit, structure and spice. Combining power with grace, this Pinot captures the essence of Slapjack.

Slapjack Block was the first block planted in Bannockburn. Planted in 1991 as a field mix of 13 clones, the vines are ungrafted on their own roots. Slapjack Block is a sun-drenched, north-facing slope, 250 metres above sea level, on soils dense with glacial schist gravels, with an overlay of clay. An aquifer runs beneath the block. These mature vines are certified organic and farmed using a no-till, regenerative approach to promote soil health. A combination of vine age and viticulture practice consistently produces a balanced crop which is naturally low yielding.

Organic and made naturally using no additives, these Pinot Noir grapes were handpicked early to capture acidity. Created with a gentle hand and minimal intervention, using wild ferments (no whole clusters), the wine was neither fined nor filtered and bottled at Terra Sancta. Twelve months in oak barriques (20% new) has added to its complexity and texture. Bottled under cork."

100/100 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (2024 Vintage)
"This is perhaps the greatest Pinot Noir I have ever tasted in New Zealand. Aromas of blackberries, dried strawberries, orange peel, spices, and graphite are subtle and refined. Full-bodied but not heavy, with perfectly formed tannins that go on for minutes. The tannins are powerful but totally integrated, with polish and poise. It’s rather endless in the finish. Own-rooted Dijon clone planted in 1991, from organically grown grapes. Give this three to four years in the bottle. Best after 2028."