Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2021

Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2021French oak Black raspberry Violet & thyme Ripe tannins "Most if not all escarpment Pinots Noir need to be given the time to develop, build complexities and show their true potential. This was the legacy that Larry Mackenna and his team set, todays team led by Tim Bourne is continuing this legacy easily showcased in this wine. Aromas and flavours are rich and taut, complex and detailed. A wine that opens up to reveal its potential after 3 days open.

• French oak
• Black raspberry
• Violet & thyme
• Ripe tannins

"Most if not all escarpment Pinots Noir need to be given the time to develop, build complexities and show their true potential. This was the legacy that Larry Mackenna and his team set, today’s team led by Tim Bourne is continuing this legacy easily showcased in this wine. Aromas and flavours are rich and taut, complex and detailed. A wine that opens up to reveal its potential after 3 days open. Dark berries and plum, spices and dried herb, savoury and complex, mushroom and smoke. Lengthy, dry and complex. Best drinking from 2026 through 2036" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jun 2023

"Delicately aromatic wine with floral, savoury/dried herb and cherry/berry flavours. The wine has weight and structure giving it obvious complexity and longevity. Aeration is strongly recommended" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Mar 2023

"Deep ruby-red, lighter on the rim. The nose is coy, softly enveloping aromas of black raspberry, cherry, herb, floral and savoury elements. Medium-bodied, aromas of black raspberry, cherry melded with violet, thyme, liquorice, black pepper and shiitake. The wine is dark-toned and concentrated with rich herbaceous and savoury details. Tighly-knitted tannins show richness and a fine grip. A savoury and herbaceous Pinot Noir with a tightly bound structure" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Jul 2023

Fashioned true to the Escarpment style, this wine showcases the savoury complexity and structure that made Martinborough famous. Notes of turned earth and spice, sit behind lifted perfume and dark fruit flavours. It is a wine of immediate appeal, but also depth and character. Herbs de Provence, wild game, and fresh mushroom are also present. The palate is soft and subtle with ripe tannin, and classic varietal characters. It is medium bodied and a true expression of Martinborough Pinot Noir. Enjoyable on release or better after 5 years.

The Martinborough growing season saw small crops with above average summer temperatures, leading to good ripeness and concentrated fruit. The 2021 Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir is an assemblage of the best Pinot Noir vineyards across the district, with sixty percent of the fruit for this wine from the Te Muna Road sub region. The fruit was hand harvested and crushed to open top fermenters, with minimal intervention until it was pressed. Plunged just once a day for gentle extraction and then left to macerate on skins for an average vat time of 20 days. It has been aged in French oak barriques (15% new) for 11 months followed by a further 9 months in stainless steel tank before bottling without fining or filtration.

Food Pairing: Serve with any good Asian cuisine, Beef Bourgogne or full flavoured fish. Serve at 16°C.