When the Kirbys and McKennas met for the first time, they quickly realized they shared a great passion for Pinot Noir, the project to develop Escarpment was born. Collectively all four directors bring to Escarpment a world of experience, skill and understanding about the nurture of an exceptional site and the creation of sublime Pinot wines. After twenty one years of viticulture in Martinborough, Larry McKenna defines New Zealand Pinot Noir through an assemblage of exceptional sites growing some of the oldest vines in the region.

$6799each $815DOZEN EACH DOZEN Inspired by the great growths of Burgundy, Escarpment fashions its marvelous range of Pinot Noir to old world style as influenced by Martinborough's unique terroir. A blend of superior clones UCD 5, 6 and 13, from vines planted to deep alluvial gravel soils at Gill Cleland's Vineyard on Cambridge Road in 1989. Kiwa is open top fermented in traditional wooden cuvees, hand plunged twice daily over the course of three weeks. Batches are pressed into a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques for eighteen months, bottled after a minimum of egg whites fining to protect the flavours, to aid brightness in the glass and promote a soft mouthfeel texture.

Bright, impenetrable red colour. Bouquets of smoke, cedar and meats, boysenberry and ham, polished and compelling. Moana presents a more savoury, complex and spicy Pinot Noir which has become a favourite of the Escarpment winemaking team. A splendid offering, one of the most superlative red wines to come out of New Zealand.

$3999each $479DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Chardonnay vines fare exceptionally well in Margaret River, as appropriate shading yields intensely flavoured fruit with excellent natural acidity. The afternoon sea breezes typical of the region, cap the daytime temperatures and produce cool summer nights for which Margaret River is renowned. The balmy climes encourage ripening of the white varieties as flavour ripeness is achieved at lower Baumes with excellent acid retention. Grapes must be picked from midnight to 7am and are processed separately without delay to preserve quality and freshness.

$6499each $779DOZEN EACH DOZEN Chardonnay is selectively hand picked across separate blocks on different dates, over the course of two or three hours as flavours peak. Parcels are chilled to 5C and passed through an airbag press into new French oak 500L oak puncheons, only the finest quality pressings are retained. Barrels are vinified through the action of wild indigenous yeast, imparting great depth of flavour and aromatic complexity. Upon completion, barrels are topped up and treated to a term of maturation, regularly lees stirred to develop mouthfeel and texture. The best barrels are identified and assembled into the final wine, followed by an extended term of bottle age under the Evans & Tate cellars before release.

Mid golden straw hue. A pure expression of Margaret River, delicate layers of complexity that slowly build and evolve, lemons and lime, white peach and melon aromas provide primary fruit intensity with savoury elements of toast, slate and dried herb. Citrus flavours provide great freshness with stonefruit and melon flavours imparting concentration and fruit intensity. The barrel ferments achieve lovely textures and complex savoury notes.

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From a stately bequeath of the original Halls Gap plantings, established 1969 on the inhospitable slopes of the Victorian Grampians. The highly precious, single block of fully mature vines yields a meagre crop of extraordinary Riesling grapes, the parched berries are ripened to perfection by the clear skies and frigid climes, forming an indulgence of profound esters and intense flavours. Gloriously perfumed yet magnificently dry, lustrous and textural to the palate, populated on the tongue with delicate notes of ripe green apple and soft white fruits, citrus rind and sprays of fresh acidity.

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The illustrious Mendoza clone Chardonnay was planted 1992 to a gentle east facing slope right next to Block 3. Grapes are whole bunch pressed and gravity fed to seasoned French oak for a wild indigenous yeast vinification. Ferments remain in barrel for a long and languid sixteen months maturation. A multi dimensional Chardonnay in the well established, mouth filling style of Central Otago. The palate is where it all becomes more serious with an array grilled nut and baked goody flavours, the deep schist soils of Block 2 are conspicuous and up front in the lengthy mineral finish.

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Central Otago is the most southerly wine region in the world, at the edge of sustainable viticulture. Hot days, cool nights and long dry autumns are perfect. Clones on a variety of low vigor rootstocks were planted to free draining, low fertility soils during the 1990s. Felton Road's unique gravity flow techniques permit juices to peacefully ferment and tranquilly age in oak, sparing the wine any trauma as it gently evolves. The ultimate integrity of texture encourages the palate to open softly, blooming with dainty florals and ripe fresh stonefruit over a pleasing seam of juicy minerality.

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$3999each $479DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Rarely ever made in vineyards of the new world, Vin Gris is a Blanc de Noirs, rather common in many parts of Europe, where grapes of either colour can be mix and matched for a rainbow of wine styles. Felton Road treat their Pinot Noir to a whole bunch press and prompt draining of skins, infusing the juices with rakish coppery hues and just a soupçon of textural grape tannin. A prettily perfumed nose of strawberry and wild flower, Vin Gris palate is laden with fruits yet pleasingly dry, herbaceousness and apple, its long, tasty finish, seasoned by sprigs of fennel and bay.

$7999each $959DOZEN EACH DOZEN