• Toasty oak
• Dark fruit
• Subtle dried thyme
• Fine tannins

"Moderately dark ruby-red colour with some depth, lighter on the edge. The nose has a firm core with good depth of dark cherry and raspberry fruit with suggestions of plums and liquorice. The fruit is fresh and vibrant, unfolding a very delicate thread of dark and fresh herbs adding interest. Medium-full bodied, the palate has an elegantly concentrated hearth with deep raspberry fruit along with notes of liquorice, spices and plums. The fruit is sweet and rich and underlined by fine, grainy tannin extraction and structure, with balanced acidity lending energy. The wine carries positively to a long, lingering, fruit-focussed finish. This is a fresh, elegantly concentrated, youthful Pinot Noir with cherry, raspberry, liquorice and plum fruit flavours on a fine, grainy-structured palate with plenty of vitality. Match with pasta, pizza, poultry and pork over the next 3-4 years. Pinot Noir fruit, clones 115 and 777 from the ‘Delta Farm’ vineyard, fully destemmed and fermented to 13.5% alc., the wine aged 10 months, half in French oak and half in tank" Raymond Chan, Jul 2018

"Light, bright, fresh Pinot Noir with fresh herb, cherry and raspberry flavours. A simple, easy-drinking wine that's slightly on the green side of the flavour spectrum but is supple and appealing" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Jul 2018

"The 2017 vintage (4*) is a single-vineyard red, grown at the mouth of the Waihopai Valley. French oak-aged, it is deep ruby, fresh and full-bodied, with vibrant, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, showing good concentration, some savoury complexity and the structure to age, A great buy in the sub-$20 range" Michael Cooper, 2018

"A real comforting Pinot; the inviting bouquet shows dark plum, spiced cherry, game, toasted almond and subtle dried herb characters, leading to a juicy palate that is supple and silky. The wine delivers lovely fruit purity and elegance, backed by polished tannins. Well composed and highly enjoyable. At its best: now to 2021." Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, 2018

"Sweet rich fruits with supple cherry fruits, a touch of savouriness and a long finish." International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2019

The Delta Hatters Hill Pinot Noir shows a deep, dark garnet colour in the glass, with aromas of dark fruits and a hint of dried thyme and black olive brine. The palate is rich, round and full bodied with sun ripened tomatoes and raspberry mixed with a blend of dark fruit flavours. This wine has well balanced acidity, a fine tannin structure, and an impressive length with a toasty finish.

The grapes for this wine were sourced from the Delta Farm vineyard, located on the south side of Marlborough’s Wairau Valley, first established in 1848. Comprising of 27ha, planted with the best Dijon clones in 2002. The clay soil and elevation, plus Marlborough’s warm days and cool nights which provide an excellent quality of light and constant breeze to make this site ideal for producing excellent quality Pinot Noir.

After processing, the juice was seasoned in the winery in a mix of French oak and tank. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation before being blended and gently prepared for bottling. The 2017 vintage is drinking beautifully on release date, but can be continued to be enjoyed over the next five years with careful cellaring to produce a more mature, complex wine.

Food Pairing: Well matched with herbed spring lamb.