Description
A drum roll for this fine Pinot Noir from Marlborough… We were thrilled with this winner for quality and value! So smittened with it we are declaring it our pinot of the month!
This Pinot Noir specialist started in 2000 when winemaker Matt Thomson found and purchased the ideal site with pioneering Marlborough viticulturalist Neal Ibbotson (established St Claire) and wine importer, David Gleave MW… Their mission was to make top quality Pinot Noir in Marlborough.. Marlborough’s identity for Pinot Noir has been slow to emerge, simply because the success of Sauvignon Blanc has trumped growers’ attention from the rigorous demands of handcrafting first class pinot noir.
Marlborough is perfectly suited to Pinot Noir with warm days, cold nights with more regular ripening season than both Martinborough (doesn’t have problematic southerly winds at flowering thanks to the protection of Kaikoura range) and Central Otago (without frost issues).. Rare to have a cool climate wine region that is dry.. Marlborough is in a range shadow with protection from rains from Richmond Range in north west and Kaikoura Range to the south !
2002 best Dijon Clones 115, 777, 6 & Abel were planted on Clay soils.. 100% estate grown handpicked fruit, predominantly wild yeast small batch ferments with hand plunging followed by maturation in French oak.. much hard work and perseverance is paying off with this fine 2014 release. Entry level pinot of this calibre is testament to the class of this fine producer.
According to Matt the key to the ‘holy grail’ of Pinot Noir is to find a site with clay soils- the widespread alluvial soils suit sauvignon blanc well but not Pinot noir and predominance of dijon clone 115 enhances his wine with more fruit tannin and 777 brings dark juicy fruit.
This beautiful offering abounds juicy red & black cherry fruit with plenty of stuffing and a more-ish tar flourish.. A lovely Pinot with depth of fruit, elegant tannins, seamless balance and acidity !
Do not hold back here snare yourself a box… Magnificent with Roast Lamb!
Gold Medal Sommeliers Wine Awards 2016 the prestigious UK wine show judged by country’s best sommeliers ; Silver Medal International Wine Challenge.
17.5/20 and 4 stars, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, April 2016 … “Moderately dark, ruby-red colour with light, youth purple hues on the rim. The nose is well-concentrated with deep aromas of ripe, dark raspberry fruit with notes of liquorice, unfolding dark herbal and violet floral detail and notes of raspberry liqueur. Medium-bodied, the palate is bright and vibrantly up-front with sweet and juicy flavours of dark raspberry fruit along with nuances of dark herbs and liquorice. This has a sweet-fruited core and a smooth-flowing mouthfeel, with modest, but supple tannin extraction and fresh, slippery acidity. The wine leads to a smooth, slender, lingering finish of raspberry fruit. This is a juicy, up-front, raspberry-fruited Pinot Noir with a supple and lively palate. Match with pasta, poultry and pork over the next 4 years. Dijon clone fruit fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 8 months in seasoned French oak” RRP $28
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