Escarpment Pahi Pinot Noir 2021

From an exceptional single site on Te Muna Road, the estate grown Pahi vineyard is an individual site selection Pinot Noir sourced from designated rows on the famed Martinborough Terrace.

Martinborough is a wine-producing area in the southern part of New Zealand's North Island. It lies around 55 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of the capital, Wellington, and is one of the three main subregions of the greater Wairarapa wine region. The viticultural focal point of the region is the Martinborough Terrace – a raised plateau of alluvial gravel just north of the town that has been forced up over time by tectonic movement. The free-draining nature of this soil is excellent for viticulture because it limits the hydration of the vines, leading to stress. These stressed vines put their energy more into producing small, concentrated berries than leafy foliage, increasing the quality of the grapes and subsequently the wines. Martinborough enjoys a relatively dry climate due to the rain shadow of the surrounding hills. The area is climatically quite similar to Marlborough, with a coastal influence. High sunshine hours, low rainfall and cool nights assist in ripening the grapes and adding character to the wines.

The fruit for this wine was hand-picked over two days with the final wine comprised of clones 114, 115, Cl5 and Abel, giving a diverse array of flavours and a unique expression. The fruit was open top fermented in traditional cuvees, using indigenous yeast and hand plunged just once a day, with a total vat time of 25 days.

After pressing it was matured in 25% new French oak barriques for 20 months. Bottled without fining or filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.