The Marloborist Pinot Noir 2023

Soft & Mineral

First, let's start with the tasting impressions.

This Pinot Noir has a somewhat pale color and a strong impression of bright red berry fruits.

It has a concentrated umami reminiscent of cherry compote, and after swallowing, you'll feel a powdery, fine tannin clinging to the roof of your mouth. The finish is long, inviting you to pair it with food.

The vibrant acidity, fruitiness, elements of wood and spice beyond the fruit, and a pleasant, lingering powdery astringency are all well-balanced, leaving a highly satisfying impression with every sip.

I believe this is a wine whose quality rivals that of Burgundian Pinot Noirs in the same price range, with each element being of high caliber.

The producer is "The Marlborist," a winery named after their profound love for Marlborough, a major wine-producing region in New Zealand.

It is a new winery founded by three experienced men who grew up in Marlborough.

They proclaim themselves to be Marlborough specialists, and their vision is:

"To evolve Marlborough wine and create something special and unprecedented."

They are committed to handcrafted wines rather than mass production, creating wines that are meant to be opened on special occasions rather than for everyday consumption.

This Pinot Noir uses six clones grown using a combination of organic and biodynamic farming methods.

The hand-picked grapes are chilled overnight, mostly destemmed, and then undergo natural fermentation with wild yeasts. It is aged in barrels for 11 months. The various batches are blended just before bottling and then shipped.

Although it employs natural methods like biodynamics and wild yeast, the flavor profile is exceptionally pure. It boasts a clean finish with added complexity.

It pairs wonderfully with dishes such as ratatouille, or chicken and white fish stewed in tomato sauce. Yakitori (with sauce) and grilled mackerel would also be good pairings.

About The Marlborist Winery

Marlborough, nestled between the Southern Alps and the Pacific Ocean at the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island, is their home.

They acquired their winemaking knowledge and skills in this region, working under pioneering winemakers.

Their goal is to express their love for Marlborough through their wines, and to create the best wines in Marlborough, New Zealand's largest wine region.

The wines they produce embody the charm of Marlborough that they themselves experience every day.

Winemaker Rich Ellis, based in Blenheim, produces outstanding wines by leveraging his experience at Ata Rangi and Greywacke.

Viticulture expert Stu Dudley travels throughout Marlborough, supporting growers and utilizing his extensive knowledge of the region.

Brand Director Dave Nash, based in Auckland, handles brand and storytelling. He also produced 'A Seat at the Table,' a documentary film about the New Zealand wine industry.

They source grapes from some of their favorite sites throughout Marlborough and produce wine using simple methods.

The Marlborist's wines reflect the charm of Marlborough, a representative NZ region, beautifully expressive and elegantly crafted.

About the Marlborough Region

Marlborough is the heart of NZ's wine-producing regions.

It possesses favorable natural conditions for grape growth, such as abundant sunshine and significant diurnal temperature variation. More than 80% of NZ wine is produced in Marlborough.

Among these, Sauvignon Blanc, characterized by its crisp acidity and abundant fruit flavor, boasts overwhelming production volume and is widely loved globally as a unique varietal. For red wines, Pinot Noir, with its appealing rich berry fruit flavor, is popular.

The Marlborist Pinot Noir 2023