A decidedly regional Pinot Noir, Drift are all about capturing the natural endowments of Marlborough and bringing the goodness of it all to the world. Minimal intervention is a priority, to ensure that the wines clearly expresses the uniqueness of the land. Drift take a decidely eclectic approach to constructing a wine that expresses the totality of all good things Marlborough. The palate is animate with ripe red cherry and raspberry flavours, perfumed by spice notes, supported by gentle tannins and juicy acidity, wrapped in a veil of supply seasoned oak.

$2199each $263DOZEN EACH DOZEN

The great virtues of Martinborough are the lowest rainfall anywhere on the North Island and a heat summation that's idyllic for Pinot Noir. Seasonal rains are limited to a tiny locality, five kilometres in radius. At the heart of these unique mesoclimes lies an auspicious terroir of wonderfully free draining gravels, the home of Dry River Pinot Noir. Its full and round palate over elegant, velvety textured tannins, defined by delicacy rather than power. The finished wine is aged for a year in a selection of seasoned and new French oak puncheons.

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Escarpment is a joint venture by Heathcote Estate/ Yabby Lake's dynamic duo, the Messrs Kirby and McKenna. No expense was spared, the pick of Pinot Noir rootstock and clones were established to precious alluvial gravel terraces at the base of Aorangi Ranges. Inspired by the classics of Burgundy, Escarpment expresses the distinctive character of Martinborough's unique terroir. Engaging perfumes, elegant flavours and soft ripe tannins are all hallmarks of the finest Martinborough Pinot Noir.

$4999each $599DOZEN EACH DOZEN Since inaugural vintage, Escarpment has been a Tour de force in Martinborough Pinot Noir, combining power, structure and complexity. Inspired by the classics of Burgundy, winemaking is a combination of new and old world techniques, ideally suited to the intense Escarpment style. Grapes are all hand picked from the estate's Te Muna Road property, Cleland and Bunny Vineyards. Fruit is handled without any mechanical pumping, pressed and treated to an indigenous yeast ferment whilst hand plunged every twelve hours, followed by a course of eighteen days maceration. The finished wine is aged eleven months in a high proportion of new, exclusively French oak barriques.

Satin purple colour with robes of red. A heady perfume, European, expressing earth and richness, fragrant Pinot fruits, cherry and licorice. Elegant palate with rich flavours and soft ripe tannins. The distinctive Escarpment style showing complexity, attractive texture and the perfect mix of black, red and green fruit flavours which make Pinot Noir memorable.

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.

From fruit picked off some of the oldest vineyards in Martinborough, an internationally renowned Pinot Noir appellation. Blessed by superior drainage and cool summers, a combination of slightly heavier soils and bespoke clones on own roots, always render a particularly eloquent Pinot Noir, so very articulate of clime and of place. Escarpment excels at formulating single vineyard wines from their small, but excellent, retinue of sites. Like the best wines of Burgundy, these individualistic editions offer marked differences in character and charm.

$8499each $1019DOZEN EACH DOZEN Escarpment are exemplary wines from special vineyards within Martinborough. The names of the unique vineyard sites and individual Cuvees are also relevant. Legend has it Kupe lead by the stars, voyaged across the ocean to discover Aotearoa. Escarpment celebrates this journey of discovery, an expression of some of the the oldest vines in the district. Fruit is treated to open top ferments in traditional wooden cuvees, hand plunged daily, rack and returned into a high proportion of new French oak barriques for maturation.

Deep scarlet colour. Aromas of ripe red glace fruits and fragrant oak, dark compotes of cherry and of fig, marjoram and violet, scorched chocolate and the vapours of warm, plummy liqueur. Very much an old vine Pinot Noir, presenting a beautifully soft and ripe, pure expression of fruit within an impeccably crafted new world style, will continue to evolve handsomely, a wonderful counterpart to the finest cuisine.

The zenith of new world Pinot Noir, welcome to the Escarpment wonderland, showcasing the prodigious acumen and skill of viticultural maestro Larry McKenna. Vinified from grapes grown to the closely planted Pahi parcel, a pure and delineated expression of a small yet exceptional site. Treated to the labour and love of hand plunged ferments, followed by a long and languid term of age in an artisanal selection of the finest French oak Cuvée. An aromatic plunge into bramble berries, rich florals and earth, ripe, silky texture, incredible length and lingering, technicolour peacock's tail.

$6799each $815DOZEN EACH DOZEN

Grapes for Te Rehua are grown to the elite Barton Vineyard on Huangarua Road Road, from mature vines over twenty years of age. Planted to deep alluvial gravels, for which the Martinborough terraces are renowned, the site supports various clones, all growing in a very sheltered spot. Fermented in barrel, hand plunged and sensibly oaked, one of New Zealand's most compelling constructs of Pinot Noir.

$6799each $815DOZEN EACH DOZEN Escarpment's aim is to continually produce the very best of tomorrow's definitive new world wines. Complexity, texture and structure are keywords and motivators. The team aims to reward enthusiasts with progressive and suggestive Pinot Noir that encourage venture to the edge of wine appreciation. Te Rehua was treated to a wild, indigenous yeast, open top vinification in wooden Cuvees, hand plunged every twelve hours over the course of twenty five days. Upon completion, batches are pressed into a selection of new and seasoned French oak barriques for a year. A minimal egg white fining protects the wine while aiding brightness in the glass, a soft mouthfeel and fine texture.

Scarlet in colour. A fine nose redolent with sprightly pungent fruit, plums and strawberry, cranberries and briar. Te Rehua exhibits black cherry and plum fruit flavours over a firm tannin structure and controlled oak. A classic example of new world Pinot Noir, Te Rehua offers the complexity derived from a unique vineyard site, combined with vibrant fruit flavours, long and lingering. A wonderful counterpart to all game and flavourful cuisine.

$11999each $1439DOZEN EACH DOZEN

A number of sites along Felton Road were meticulously surveyed before any vines went in the ground, favourable soils were identified as free draining and low fertility, influenced by the Central Otago growing season to yield an extraordinary quality of Pinot Noir. The non interventionalist approach means a traditional fermentation and moderately long maceration on skins to extract rich colours and tannin with considerable depth of flavour. Aged for a year in a selection of the finest French barriques, its dusty floral nose, violets and rose, integrate seamlessly with the oak perfumes of cinnamon and clove.

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A characterful Pinot Noir born of triumph over adversity. Considerable research by Stewart Elms in 1991 identified the north facing slopes at the end of Felton Road near Bannockburn as being one of the warmest and most ideal sites in Central Otago. Heat summation data and soil maps from the construction of the Clyde Hydro Dam made a crucial contribution to the establishment of vines on Felton Road. Mouthcoating, subtle and caressing of fruit, a Pinot Noir of harmony, restraint and sophistication that intrigues rather than shouts its breeding, finishing with just enough tannin to frame the wine beautifully.

$8099each $971DOZEN 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