Paddy Borthwick Paper Road Wairarapa Pinot Noir 2023

Description

Cherry, Oak, Spice

"Sweetly ripe and inviting, the bouquet shows dark cherry, plum, olive, and warm spice aromas. The palate displays juicy fruit intensity with supple texture and well-balanced tannins, making it beautifully harmonious with a lingering, tasty finish. At its best: now to 2028" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2025

"Lovely bouquet with ripeness of red berry fruits with a savoury earthy frame. Flavours of cherries and red plums, tart cherry and a strawberry compote idea. There’s a natural youthful tautness as the wine touches the palate - stemming from tannins and acidity, a contrast from red berry flavours and natural sweetness from oak and alcohol deliver contrast and style. Dry, moderate tannins and plenty of acidity, fruit flavours reflect the bouquet, a wine best enjoyed alongside food with best drinking from 2026 through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Jun 2025

This is about the purity of Pinot Noir with spicy savory and bright, juicy red florals and fruits. It is medium bodied with soft velvety tannins, a mix of tart and sweet cherry fruit with a chocolate touch to the lightly oaked finish and a spicy zestiness to the lingering aftertaste.

Established in 1996, proudly family owned and managed, Borthwick Vineyard produces wines that are a direct reflection of the Gladstone region, New Zealand. Ancient stony, alluvial soils, a cool climate, sustainable practices and minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery, mean our wines display distinctive single vineyard characteristics.

The growing season for the 2023 vintage. saw an early budburst with high growing degree days resulting in an earlier than usual harvest. 2023 provided some challenging growing conditions but good vineyard and canopy management and many extra hours amongst the canopy during the lead up to harvest produced clean ripe fruit at harvest time. Great flavours colour and balance across the varietals. saw an early budburst with high growing degree days resulting in the earliest harvest ever.

Diurnal temperature fluctuations, low rainfall, low humidity, and fantastic deep free draining soils combine to create an exceptional environment for Pinot Noir. Harvested from 3 vineyards allows selection of the best batches to consistently produce pure Pinot Noir.

Temperature controlled fermentation using a mixture of natural and inoculated yeasts combined with hand plunging to optimize the fruit and tannin balance. Following extended post-ferment maceration on skins the wine was drained and pressed to barrel. Rigorous barrel selection and blending is followed by minimal fining and filtration prior to bottling.

85% French oak aged for 8 months with a mixture of selected cooperages of which 15% of the barrels are new.