2016 Astrolabe Province Pinot Noir, Marlborough

Ripe, very vibrant and varietal with dark cherry and plum, dried herb and spicy with some new oak influences and light smoke moments, quite complex and intriguing. Dry, fruity and firmly textured with medium+ tannins and acid to match. Light dried herb layer and toasty wood tones. Balanced and well made. April, 2018

93 points Cameron Douglas Master Sommelier

Astrolabe Province Pinot Noir is a beautifully expressive take on Marlborough Pinot, coming from a patchwork of small vineyards across the cooler southern valleys and clay rich hillside sites that give the region its more savoury, structured side. While Marlborough is famous for Sauvignon Blanc, it is these tucked away Pinot Noir blocks that show just how nuanced the terroir can be, with clay and loess over greywacke rock giving the vines just enough stress to produce fruit with depth, spice and fine tannin. Astrolabe, led by Simon Waghorn, has long been one of New Zealand’s most terroir focused producers, sourcing fruit from growers he has worked with for decades and crafting wines that are all about purity, balance and site expression.

The wine is a bright ruby red, opening with aromas of wild strawberry, red cherry, cranberry and rose petal, layered with subtle notes of forest floor, spice and gentle oak. On the palate it is silky and finely detailed, offering juicy red fruits, savoury undertones and soft, powdery tannins that give it structure without weight. It is wonderfully versatile at the table, pairing beautifully with roast duck, lamb, mushroom dishes and grilled salmon, and it also has the balance to age for five to eight years, gaining more earthy and spicy complexity over time while holding on to its vibrant Marlborough freshness.