Notes:
The 2016 season was one of the driest that the Marlborough region has experienced since the wine industry was established in the province. A cool start to the growing season created numerous frost events that provided continuing challenges right up until flowering. The months of January to April were all warmer than average, providing excellent ripening conditions, similar to the excellent 2015, 2014 and 2010 seasons.
TOP 100 NEW ZEALAND WINES OF 2018 #98 - A bold statement of toasty oak here. This has all the meaty, barrel-derived complexity of quality modern pinot, as well as an array of ripe cherries below. The palate has a smooth array of layered tannins that carry very approachable cherries. Good purity here. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 93 Points
While the company has invested enormously in its Central Otago Pinot Noir project, I continue to think the Marlborough wine is better, at least for the moment. The 2016 Pinot Noir is a silky, medium-bodied wine, loaded with raspberry and strawberry fruit. Hints of cola and spice add dimension and linger on the finish. It’s 15% whole cluster and sees about one-third new French oak, but neither of those elements come across as dominating, they’re subtler, mostly structural, components. - Robert Parker 92 Points
