Grape

Pinot Noir

Its Origins

The vineyard is nestled under Mount Tapuae-O-Uenuku (Maori" "Footprint of the Rainbow"). At the top of the Southern Alps, it strongly influences the climate, with its rain shadow bestowing low rainfall and low humidity upon the Awatere Valley. Along with sunny days and cool nights this creates perfect conditions for slow steady ripening and flavour development. Awatere grapes have a distinctive fruity yet steely and herbaceous flavour quite different to those produced elsewhere in Marlborough.

What The Critics Say

4 Stars Michael Cooper (2015 vintage)

"The 2015 vintage (4*) was estate-grown, hand-picked and matured for 10 months in French oak barrels (25 per cent new). Drinking well now, it is deep ruby, fragrant and supple, with strong, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, smooth and lingering." Drink 2018 - 2024

18/20 Raymond Chan (2015 vintage)

"This has a full, aromatic nose of savoury red berry fruits entwined with dark herbs, red florals and nuances of nutty oak. A subtle game-like element unfolds with aeration lending complexing detail. The nose grows in density with aeration. Medium-full bodied, the palate has gently sweet and rich flavours of savoury dark-red berry fruits intermingling with dark and dried herbs, dark-red florals and nuances of nutty oak and a little game. The fruit sweetness is balanced by fine-grained supple tannins providing a core of structure and grip, with lacy acid energy lending some drive. The wine carries to a lingering, finely concentrated finish with rich, savoury red fruits. Match with duck, pork and casseroles over the next 5 years. Hand-picked fruit, clones 667 and 777, fully destemmed and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months in 25% new French oak barriques’. 650 dozen made. 18.0/20 Jun 2017 RRP $27.95." Drink 2017 - 2022