• Warm berry compote
• Dried blackcurrant
• Violet florals
• Suede leather

In the glass the wine shows deep garnet tenor and shimmers like hot lava running before the sea. The nose brims clear with star studded fruit yet is overlayed with an earth-derived complexity. Initial impressions of warm berry compote with a touch of custard are rivalled by roasted kumara, pumpkin pie with cracked sesame seed then dried blackcurrant and sweet caramel corn. Growing and glowing over time in the glass, it releases musky winter violet florals, coarsely grated nutmeg and curly chiselled wood slivers while tarry liquorice twist and fine split suede leather lend a touch of burlesque drama.

Big, brooding and musky the wine wells up in the mouth and foams over with a steaming, streaming nihilistic propensity as racy tannins lasso the tongue and threaten to hold it to ransom. Big, bad and bootylicious it displays vivid red fruits, ground baby spice and fresh tobacco leaf which delivers a backhand so close to the line as to be questionable. The texture is as fine as warm foie gras and combines with the soft acidity to give all the appeal of a Sunday morning lie in. There is a spirited vortex around the cheeks which makes the taste buds swoon and calls into question the Lab reported 13% alcohol. Some 8 months out from bottling, it is starting to shake off the awkward trappings of youth and delight the senses like a born again Sandra Dee.

The release of the new vintage of any wine is a nerve-racking time. With many of the whites from the same vintage having already sold out, Pinot Noir tends to be the true yardstick used to judge the performance of a given winery in a given year. Here at Margrain, Pinot is our raison d'être so there is more than a bit riding on the moment we first push it out into the public arena. With the previous (2015) season having been a quintessential Martinborough Pinot vintage, it left big boots to fill. Crop sizes were more generous in 2016 so it was gratifying that the weather came to the party and following a warm summer we experienced the most settled harvest conditions in many years making picking decisions a breeze. We feel there is cause for great optimism!

Since their inception Margrain Vineyard has quietly gained a reputation for producing a wide range of exceptional wines that exude both complexity and charm. Margrain Home Block Pinot Noir is thier flagship wine.