SOUTHERN VALLEYS, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND

The Southern Valleys run inland off the main Wairau plain, climbing gently into a series of side valleys shaped by clay-rich, north and west-facing slopes. Cooler nights, longer hang times and these heavier soils give Marlborough Pinot Noir its most serious voice — darker fruited, savoury and structured, with the kind of fine tannin grip that rewards a few years in the cellar. Our fruit is drawn from a mature, densely planted block on a north-facing aspect with the addition of some west facing which adds lift and fragrance. Both blocks are over 18 years old, planted at 1.5m × 2.4m rows, and cropped at just 2 kg per vine — a deliberately low yield for depth and definition.

A perfumed nose of black cherry, wild raspberry, dried herbs and a lift of cedar and forest floor. The palate is medium-bodied and pure, with savoury red and dark berry fruit framed by gentle whole-bunch spice, fine-grained tannins and a long, gently grippy finish. Drinks beautifully now with duck, mushrooms or aged hard cheese, and will continue to evolve over the next 5–7 years

BRAND NEW RELEASE - to be reviewed