Cardrona 2022 birthday Single Malt Whisky release is an exquisite marriage of four hand selected Felton Road Pinot noir casks. With just 1,217 bottles, buy one to drink and one to keep. This 700ml bottle comes in a beautiful oak box, and are all individually numbered.

Colour: Warm, rose gold

Aroma: Black amber plum, nectarine

Palate: Dried raspberries, poached nectarine, toffee, roasted cashew and baking spices 

A rich and complete Premier Cru Pinot Noir from Volnay in Burgundy. Clos de la Barre is a Monopole (i.e. exclusively owned by Jadot). Grown in a real clos that is surrounded by high stone walls, it produces a more assertive wine than other Volnays, with ethereal spice and mineral tannins detailed amongst slightly richer, riper fruit. With serious character, this powerful and structured wine is built to improve with age. This is a superb offering from Louis Jadot.

A unique parcel within Rippon, Emma’s Block faces eastward on the lakefront where ancient clay reefs run laterally through fine schist gravels. Emma’s Block is named after the great-great-great grandmother of the current generation of the Mills family, through whom the name entered into the family.

Cellaring is recommended. This wine will age gracefully for 10+ years.

Aroha is the Maori word for love and plenty of TLC has gone into tending the grapes that go into this full bodied Pinot Noir from the Te Muna Valley in Martinborough. 

This is the pinnacle Pinot Noir made by Craggy Range and represents a wine that can age superbly as well as drinking well now; preferably decanted. 

Red and black cherry flavours are supported by gentle smooth French oak ageing.

Tasting Note: Deep and complex bouquet of red cherry and sweet raspberry, pomegranate and hints of fresh zesty blood orange. Full-bodied yet extremely elegant, fine-grained but present tannins, minerally, youthful acidity and hints of Five Spice and a deep core of cool, vibrant fruit, lovely length, and persistence. Cellar 12 to 18 years.

Winemaking Notes: Harvested 9th April 2016, bottled 15th February 2018. Hand-picked and carefully selected 100% Abel Clone Pinot Noir grapes. All de-stemmed, cold-macerated and fermented in small batch stainless steel vats and left on grape skins for 4 weeks. Aged in 100% new French oak barriques of the Bourgogne Tonnelleries Rousseau, Remond and Meyrieux for 20 months. No fining and only light filtration before bottling.

?With a slew of red-berry and spicy nuances, this is a super-elegant pinot noir with very fine tannins that are now almost perfectly resolved. Extremely long, polished and mineral finish of the kind you expect from Grand Cru red Burgundy with some age. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.? ? James Suckling, January 2022

?Plenty of spiciness to the hibiscus, ripe-cherry, strawberry, oyster, mushroom and earth aromas. Smoky, too. Full and dense. Then it changes to dried cherries with some citrus, closing up nicely with freshness and intensity. Needs time to open. First bottling of this. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. Better after 2024.? ? James Suckling, October 2022

Certification: Organic

Alcohol: 14.0%

Variety: Pinot Noir

Region: Wairarapa, New Zealand

One of the finest vineyards in Volnay, the Clos des Chenes offers elegance and typicity. The vineyard lies in optimal position on the mid-slope, with the famous Taillepieds beside it and Caillerets below. Unlike both of these Clos des Chenes has a full sun-facing, southerly aspect. This enhances ripeness and fruit flavours, while well-draining limestone soils and cool nights preserve acidity for this classically elegant, fresh and subtly complex red. Ageworthy yet approachable in nature, this is a beautiful Volnay for the decanter or cellar.

Kotinga is one of four single vineyard Pinot Noirs made by Ata Rangi from 2020; a great year which was dry and warm with a long autumn and was also the first time single vineyard wines were produced in this way. 

This bright fruit scented wine is made from the Dijon Pinot Noir clones of 115, 667 and 777, which give it aromas of cherry, red currant and plum stone, which set the scene on the nose. The palate opens with a flourish of supple tannins uplifted with fluid acidity. Flavours of grapefruit and juniper spread through to the end of the palate.

Aged in a 2280 litre foudre (very large oak barrel) instead of the traditional 228 litre barrique, to highlight and retain the bright crunchy qualities of Dijon clones grown on gravels. This is a delightful wine and unique expression of Martinborough that is playful now and will also reward cellaring.

2022 ANGEL FLOWER PINOT NOIR
Season summary
Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm. 

Tasting note
Light garnet hue. With a beautifully expressive nose of rose petals and dried herbs, the complexity leaps out of the glass. Silky texture, with crushed red fruits and with a velvet mineral acidity. Fine tannins support this elegantly floral and savoury expression of Angel Flower in 2022. Great length, subtle flavours that linger long. A elegant wine that has understated power.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and farmed biodynamically from inception. A beautiful, very steep, north-facing block. Coarse, shallow soils that enhance the aromatics; 15% clay, 5-10% active lime. Harvest dates: 20 April 2022

Winemaking
Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden barrels. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

303 cases of 6 x 750ml bottles produced.
pH:3.91
Chemical Analysis
Alcohol: 13.5%
TA: 5.0g/L SO2: 50ppm
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes

A very special Pinot Noir with layers of complexity, a silky texture and delicate concentrated red fruit, earth and spice flavours. This lovely wine is made in miniscule quantities from this country's smallest wine region, the Waitaki Valley, where the Clos Caroline Vineyard is situated. This stunning vineyard site is walled with (and full of) limestone; that mercurial rock that makes for extremely healthy Pinot Noir vines. 

This wine is a must try for Pinot Noir devotees. 

Kupe is made entirely from Escarpment's home block first planted in 1999 on Te Muna Road. The alluvial gravels on the Martinborough Terrace provide a distinctive character that sets a benchmark for New Zealand Pinot Noir.

Winemaker's notes

Near perfect growing conditions led to exceptional fruit that was handled with great care to help retain balance and elegance. 100% Abel clone picked over two days; the fruit was fermented in open top fermenters using indigenous yeast. They were hand plunged once daily for a total vat time of 31 days.  After pressing, the wine was aged in 42% new French oak barriques for 19 months, creating a wine with ripe flavours and full tannin. Bottled without fining or filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and balance, and every priority afforded during its elevation, showing all the hallmarks of a grand young Pinot Noir on release, July 2023. 

Tasting

Crimson red with a deep dark core. Lifted and fragrant, offering all the grace and poise Pinot can give, with an alluring charm. This is a wine that is both subtle and beguiling, yet bold and brooding. It is lifted and fragrant with perfume and spice, along with cascading red and black fruits that offer an array of flavours and complexity. Always evolving in the glass, it has a core of dark fruit with dried porcini mushrooms and cured meat that work in harmony with the floral notes and savoury accents. It is the classic iron fist in a velvet glove. A firm tannin profile rounds out the opulent fruit profile to combine excellent texture and reward patience for cellaring up to 20 years. Match with rich red meats, duck or traditional Christmas lunch with the trimmings. Serve at 16°C.

History of The Escarpment Vineyard

Larry McKenna was one of the first winemakers in Martinborough and has had a pivotal role in pioneering Pinot Noir in New Zealand. He was born and bred in Australia and began winemaking in the Wairarapa region at Martinborough Vineyards in the early days of modern New Zealand wine. In 1999 he founded The Escarpment Vineyard on Te Muna Road, a dramatically beautiful valley which is nine kilometres east of the Martinborough township. 

The Escarpment Vineyard was purchased by Torbreck Wines in South Australia in 2018 and Larry remains at the helm with winemaker Tim Bourne. 

2022 SNAKE'S TONGUE PINOT NOIR

Season summary
Warm spring conditions resulted in steady growth with flowering early- December. The new year brought both rain and snow leaving a dusting on the ranges, but thankfully warm, dry weather followed through to harvest resulting in perfectly ripe fruit. Veraison took place at the beginning of February and harvest commenced in April.

Tasting note
Bright ruby hue. Complex, alluring nose of dark fruits, cherries and cloves, invoking forest floor and wild thyme. A powerful wine with flavours of complex red fruits and game meats. The mouthfeel is plush and silky, while the structure unfolds into a juicy and evocative expression of this very special piece of land.

Viticulture
From the Snake’s Tongue parcel planted in 2007 at Manatu Estate in Lowburn, Central Otago. Abel clone meticulously farmed to the highest standard in its third year of organic conversion producing stellar fruit. Soils are predominantly loess over deep silts that have developed pedogenic lime deposits. Harvest date: 12 April 2022

Winemaking
33% whole bunch with the remainder gently de-stemmed to maintain a high percentage of whole berries. Fermented using wild yeasts in an open top concrete tulipe fermenter for 21 days. Aged in French barrels for 12 months, 30% new oak, then blended and aged for a further 6 months in oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Chemical Analysis
Alcohol: 13.5% pH: 3.82
TA: 4.6g/L SO2: 55ppm
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes
497 cases of 6 x 750ml bottles produced.

2022 FIELD OF FIRE CHARDONNAY

Season summary
Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm.

Tasting note
Green lemon hue. Complex nose of minerals, flint, lemons and limes. Taught yet rich and concentrated, flavours reminiscent of lime and samphire. Fine and compact phenolics frame the wine and drive the long, moreish, mineral finish.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. This unique, south-east facing site has varied soils, graduating from top to bottom on the slope, through primarily shallow (10-15cm) glauconitic clays over well drained limestone. Harvest date: 29 April 2022.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 4 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged
French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for
5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in
September 2023.

Chemical Analysis
pH:3.3
Alcohol: 13%
TA: 7.0g/L SO2: 50ppm
Other additives: None
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes

2022 EARTH SMOKE PINOT NOIR

Season Summary
Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm.

Tasting note
Vibrant garnet with great clarity. The nose has brooding aromas of dark fruits, spicy complexity and florals. Dense, compact palate with a core of umami raspberries and a savoury, resinous complexity surrounded by soft fine tannins and a saline, palate-activating structure. A pure, vibrant and expansive expression of Earth Smoke.

Viticulture
Planted between 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and farmed biodynamically from inception. An expansive, east-facing slope.Strong, beautifully structured soils; 30% clay, 15% active lime.

Winemaking
Carefully hand sorted, fully destemmed and fermented with yeasts from the vineyard, gently fermented using infusion methods for 21-27 days. Settled in tank before being transferred to French wooden barrels. Elevage of 18 months, then bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Chemical Analysis
Alcohol: 13%
TA: 5.2g/l SO2: 40ppm
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes
410 cases of 6 x 750ml bottles produced.

2022 LION'S TOOTH CHARDONNAY

Season summary 

Under the influence of La Nina, the vines had good growth and good flowering conditions which resulted in solid yields. 200mm in February had us on edge, but diligent viticulture and a dry March and April allowed us to hang the fruit out till the end of April and achieve optimum ripeness. The resulting wines are an elegant expression of our Waikari farm.

Tasting note
Pale lemon straw hue. Mineral complex nose of mandarin, cashew nuts, and crushed limestone. Great depth. Taught, focused flavours envelop the palate. Lemon curd, mandarin peel, nutty flavours unfold. Great length and drive with saline acidity.

Viticulture
Planted from 2000-2002 at 11,111 vines/ha and a second planting in 2018, farmed biodynamically from inception. Steeply inclined, east facing home block. Beautiful soils, with nut and crumb structure and great mineral fertility: 30% clay, 15% active lime. Harvest date: 28 April 2022.

Winemaking
Crushed and soaked for 2 hours prior to pressing. Wild ferment, in aged French oak barrels. 12 months on lees in barrel, then aged on light lees for 5 months in stainless steel prior to bottling unfined and unfiltered in September 2023.

Chemical Analysis
Alcohol: 1 3 % pH: 3.29
TA: 6.8g/L SO2: 50ppm
Other additives: None
Suitable for Vegetarian/Vegan: Yes
409 cases of 6 x 750ml bottles produced.