Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
The palate of this wine has aromas of spice and anise followed by a lifted fragrance due to the inclusion of stems. These flavours are underpinned by an array of red fruit flavours, such as raspberry, sour red cherry and redcurrant, which are held together by a fine line of acidity that drives the length of the palate with minerality leading into a taught crunchy structure. Texture is the real hero here, giving the wine a velvety mouthfeel.
Vinification details
The fruit was picked over two days and destemmed to open top fermenters with the inclusion of 43% whole bunches. The grapes were fermented with indigenous yeasts and hand plunged once daily for soft extraction with a total vat time of 27 days. After pressing, the wine was matured in 40% new French oak barriques for 20 months. It was bottled without fining or filtration. This promotes textural mouth feel and balanced fruit complexities.
With winemaker Tim Bourne.
Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
The Kiwa vineyard tends to exhibit complex savoury notes, of bay laurel, green tea and Chinese five spice. These are underpinned by an array of red fruits such as raspberry, sour red cherry and red currant, that sit amidst lifted and floral perfumed notes. The savoury complexity continues through the palate, with a wine that offers both grace and presence. It is bright and expressive with incredible buoyancy, thanks to the taut focus and firm tannins. This helps to tighten the structure giving one confidence to cellar for at least 10 years.
Vinification details
The fruit was destemmed to an open top fermenter with the inclusion of some whole bunch. It was fermented using indigenous yeast and hand plunged just once a day for soft extraction, with a total vat time of 25 days. After pressing it was matured in 35% new French oak barriques for 20 months. Bottled without fining or filtration, promoting textured mouth feel and balanced fruit complexities.
AWARDS
Vinous: 92 pts
Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
Grapes for this wine were grown on the Cleland Vineyard Cambridge Street, Martinborough from 31-year-old vines. A combination of deep alluvial gravels which the Martinborough Terraces are renowned for and a blend of clones UCD 5 and 6 always rewards with savoury, complex, spicy wine.
Vinification details
This was open top fermented using indigenous yeasts in traditional wooden cuvées, hand plunged every 12 hours, with a total vat time of 21 days. After pressing it was matured in 40% new French oak barriques for 18 months. Bottled without filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.
With winemaker Tim Bourne.
Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
Grapes for this wine were grown on the Cleland Vineyard Cambridge Street, Martinborough from 30-year-old vines. A combination of deep alluvial gravels which the Martinborough Terraces are renowned for and a blend of clones UCD 5, 6 and 13 always rewards with savoury, complex, spicy wine.
Vinification details
This was open top fermented using indigenous yeasts in traditional wooden cuvées, hand plunged every 12 hours, with a total vat time of 21 days. After pressing it was matured in 40% new French oak barriques for 18 months. Bottled without filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.
Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
Grapes for this wine were grown on the Cleland Vineyard Cambridge Street, Martinborough from 29-year-old vines. A combination of deep alluvial gravels which the Martinborough Terraces are renowned for and a blend of Clones UCD 5, 6 and 13 always rewards with savoury, complex, spicy wine.
Vinification details
This was open top fermented using indigenous yeasts in traditional wooden cuvées, hand plunged every 12 hours, with a total vat time of 23 days. After pressing it was matured in 40% new French oak barriques for 18 months. It was fined to protect the flavours and aid brightness in the glass. Bottled without filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.
Technical Analysis
Escarpment's Kiwa Pinot is a savoury, complex, spicy wine, thanks to a combination of the alluvial gravels of Martinborough and a specific blend of clones.
Tasting note
Grapes for this wine were grown on the Cleland Vineyard Cambridge Street, Martinborough from 28-year-old vines. A combination of deep alluvial gravels which the Martinborough Terraces are renowned for and a blend of Clones UCD 5, 6 and 13 always rewards with savoury, complex, spicy wine.
Vintage conditions
Perfect weather in Martinborough during flowering in December 2014 resulted in an ideal crop which did not require thinning.
Vinification details
This was open top fermented using indigenous yeasts in traditional wooden cuves and hand plunged every 12 hours, with a total vat time of 21 days. After pressing it was matured in 40% new French oak barriques for 18 months. It was fined to protect the flavours and aid brightness in the glass without filtering, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.
