"The wine combines lovely sweet fruit notes of black cherries and plums with seductive warm spice, game and dark mushroom nuances. It is richly fruited yet elegant, generously textured yet refined, and offers loads of tasty flavours, wonderfully framed by silky tannins. At its best: now to 2020" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Feb 2018

"Bright, supple, high energy pinot noir with dark cherry, violet and supple savoury and fresh herb flavours supported by fine, peppery tannins. An elegant wine that's approachable now" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Mar 2018

Pirinoa Road is a collaboration between long time Martinborough vigneron Peter Croft and the team at Antipodean Sommelier and takes is name from the Pirinoa district, home of an old Maori pa site in South Wairarapa. Since its first vintage in 2008 it has developed a reputation of loyal followers far and wide as a result of it consistently delivering classical quality Martinborough characteristics at fabulous value. 

Martinborough enjoys hot summers, long dry autumns and stoney terrain which has resulted in this boutique growing region gaining worldwide acclaim for Pinot Noir. The 2015 vintage was no exception to this rule with perfect weather during flowering, resulting in an ideal crop levels. Somewhat Burgundian in character, being a little cooler than the two preceding seasons with some light rain through the growing and harvesting period, meant capturing the moment to harvest was very important which took place over the period of 19th March to 8th April.

The grapes -Clones 5 Pommard and Dijon clones (667, 777)- were a 100% hand harvested before being sent to the winery where they received 100% stem removal with no crushing. Wild fermented in a range of vessel sizes with very gentle plunge and pump over operations periodically undertaken. Skin contact times varied for different tanks and clones. The wines from free run and pressings were aged in older French oak barrels where they completed their spontaneous malolactic fermentation. Barrels were later racked for blending and given a period of 15-16 months barrel maturation. The wine was unfined at the winery and polish filtered at the bottling stage to provide clarity and finesse. Drinking beautifully now, or cellar up to 2021.

Food Pairing: Will match superbly with mushroom risotto or paired alongside rich meat dishes that include duck or venison.