"Beautifully fruited and fragrant, the instantly appealing bouquet shows dark cherry, plum, floral, spice and toasted almond characters. The palate is concentrated and succulent, and offers terrific fruit intensity and velvety texture, wonderfully framed by supple tannins. The wine is generous and flavoursome, while remaining elegant and well structured. At its best: now to 2021" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, March 2017

"Light, fresh and delicately tangy pinot noir with raspberry, red cherry and subtle spicy oak flavours. The wine has impressive purity and energy. It makes up in charm and drinkability what it lacks in concentration and complexity" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, August 2017

"Moderately deep ruby-red colour with light purple hues on the rim. The nose is up-front and voluminous with open and accessible aromas of vibrant, primary dark red berry, raspberry and cherry fruit lifted by violet florals, unfolding suggestions of dark-red plums, spices and perfumes. Medium-full bodied, the palate has bright, lively primary raspberry and cherry fruit along with violet floral aromatics, and lifted whole berry fermentation suggestions. The fruit is supported by fine-grained, flowery tannin extraction providing a refined, textural mouthfeel. The acidity is balanced and integrated, allowing the fruit and structure to feature. The wine carries to a fine-featured, lingering finish. This is an open and accessible Pinot Noir with vibrant primary fruit flavours of raspberries and cherries with violet floral lift, on a finely structure palate. Match with duck, pork and beef lamb dishes over the next 5 years. Clones Abel, 10/5 and 115 from the ‘Falloon’ block in Bideford, vines approx. 20 y.o., the fruit fully destemmed and fermented, partially with indigenous yeasts to 13.6% alc., the wine aged 9 months in 15% new oak" Raymond Chan, March 2017

Even ruby-red colour with garnet hues, beautifully fruited and fragrant with instantly appealing bouquet of dark cherry, plum, floral, spice and toasted almond characters. Medium-full bodied, gently presented flavours of soft red berry fruits feature on the palate with savoury dried herb, earth and red floral detail. The fruit is encased by grainy tannins that lend a dry, textured mouthfeel. Fresh, lacy acidity emerges to provide energy and liveliness to the palate. The tannin grip carries the wine to a moderately long, dry, grainy finish with savoury flavours.

Established in 1998 the Falloon family owned vineyard was originally planted by the late John Falloon. The vineyard and farm Bowlands is now managed and owned by Jamie and Georgie Falloon and is situated in the Bideford region, 8km’s East of Masterton. The 2 vineyards made up of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris is one of the original blocks from the Wairarapa and consistently produces distinctive unique quality fruit every year.

2016 vintage was a year to pick on flavour. Early spring growth, a long growing season, very dry summer with dry harvest conditions have allowed the berries
to develop to full ripening potential. After picking the grapese underwent temperature controlled fermentation using only natural yeasts, combined with hand plunging to optimize the fruit and tannin balance. Following this, there was then extended postferment maceration on skins before the wine was drained and pressed to barrel. Rigorous barrel selection and blending is followed by minimal fining and filtration prior to bottling. 100% French oak aged for 10 months with a mixture of selected cooperages of which 25% of the barrels are new.

Food Pairing: Match with risottos and casseroles over the next 3+ years.