Sometimes referred to as the ‘gentleman’s’ grape (because of its level of sophistication…), Pinot Noir is New Zealand’s hero red grape variety. It is earlier ripening, so suits our conditions perfectly.Earlier ripening comes from it having thinner skins, as such it has a fragility, so needs to be handled with care so the delicate characters don’t get spoiled. Thus, to make a worthy Pinot, it requires care, attention, patience and dedication. But what results is a wine that provides a whole lot of pleasure; silky, soft, vibrant and inviting red fruit characters like cherry, plum and raspberry. It’s slightly smoky having sat in small French Oak barriques for 12-months.