Escarpment Pahi Pinot Noir 2020

Reviews

Cameron Douglas MS: 96/100.  Very seductive boquuet, complex and fine with a core mineral quality of silty almost sandy soil scents then aromas of dark strawberry and cherry, sweet spices of oak and a dark rose scent quality. Complex and fine textures on the palate with flavours of red berry fruits with an abundance of soft chalky tannins in contrast, moments of smoky wood, some dried herb qualities and barrel spice with medium+ acidity and a lengthy elegant and complex finish. A Pinot Noir drinkers wine, well made and very lengthy. Best drinking from 2023 through 2030.

Bob Campbell, MW (The Real Review): 95/100. An intense pinot noir with cassis, violet, red rose, plum, black cherry and spicy oak supported by tangy acidity and fine, peppery tannins. An aromatic wine that  opened up as it sat in the glass. It deserves to be aerated.

NZ Wine Rater (Steve Bennett MW, Lynette Hudson): 95/100. Opulent, complex, fragrant nose with heady aromas of black cherry stone, raspberry ripple ice cream, Jamón Ibérico, seaweed, bacon fat and smoky, vanilla new oak. Lush and plush with layers of ripe fruit and rich, savoury saturated tannins. Pushing the boundaries with such high levels of extraction and lots of oak calls for several years in the cellar.

James Suckling (JamesSuckling.com): 94/100. This has aromas of cedar, roasted coffee beans, black cherries, plums and violets. Well-structured with firm, fine tannins. Fragrant, long and polished. Medium to full body. The oak is dominant at the moment but provides an excellent frame to the dark fruit. Try after 2023.

Tasting Note

This is an outstanding example of classic Martinborough Pinot Noir. Bright red fruits, rosmary and violets leap from the glass interwoven with complex rhubarb and spice lift. The palate is medium weight with plush red fruits, intermingled with seasoned oak complexities. A fine acid line amongst chalky tannins completes the finish.

Aromas and flavours:

Additional information

Type: red wine

Varietal: Pinot Noir

Food match:  Complement to any game meat or roast BBQ duck.

Serving: Serve Pinot Noir at 16°C, that is slightly cooler than a typical room temperature, to best enjoy the layers of aroma and flavour as the wine slowly warms in the glass. Decanting an hour or so before serving is worthwhile.

Winemaking: The fruit for this wine was hand-picked over two days with the final wine comprised of clones 114, 115, Cl5 and Abel, giving a diverse array of flavours and a unique expression. The fruit was open top fermented in traditional cuvees, using indigenous yeast and hand plunged just once a day, with a total vat time of 21 days. After pressing it was matured in 35% new French oak barriques for 16 months. Bottled without fining or filtration, promoting soft mouth feel and texture.

Cellaring potential: 2030+

Alcohol: 14.0% vol

Residual sugar: <1 g/l

Bottle size: 0.75l

Notice: contains sulfite

Closure: Screwcap

Produced and bottled: Escarpment Winery Ltd., 275 Te Muna Rd., Martinborough, New Zealand

Distributor: Weinkontor Freund GmbH, D- 33829 Borgholzhausen

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