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With an impressive 93 Suckling points, this earlier-drinking red lives up to the cellar’s reputation as one of the world’s finest producers of Pinot Noir. A vibrant, yet complex red from this superb, family-owned Martinborough cellar on North Island.
Tasting notes
Vibrant red berry fruit, floral notes and smoky spice. Silky tannins
Aroma
Raspberries, cherries, rose petals, and spice
Allergy information
Contains sulphites
More information
Martinborough may be less high profile than other Kiwi wine regions, but the quality of its wines is exceptional. It lies in the southwest corner of North Island and today has a reputation for top-end Pinot Noir. Leading the charge in the 1980s was Clive Paton who, until then, had been a dairy farmer with no experience whatsoever in wine. However, he’d read a scientific paper that stated Martinborough had potential with Burgundy’s Pinot Noir, so he bought 5 hectares of land and planted the finicky variety. This was at a time when few had tried NZ wines, let alone a red from Martinborough. It certainly was an ‘ata rangi’ – a new dawn. Clive and his wife, Phyll, sister Alison still run the estate today, with Helen Masters as winemaker.