2023 Escarpment Pinot Noir, Martinborough

A very pretty pinot noir from a challenging vintage, with dried strawberry and orange peel aromas and flavors. Nice sweet fruit. About one-third whole-bunch fermentation. Drink now. Screw cap.

93 points jamessuckling.com

From Escarpment’s core Martinborough vineyards, this Pinot Noir sits at the heart of the estate’s identity, a wine built to express gravel, wind and cool southern light with clarity and depth. The vineyards lie on ancient river terraces of free draining stones that naturally restrict vigour and concentrate flavour. Martinborough’s relentless winds and long growing season preserve acidity and perfume, shaping a style that favours structure, savoury detail and longevity over easy sweetness. This bottling is a step up in intensity and architecture from the Noir, showing the estate’s more serious side.

The winemaking focuses on precision and patience. Fruit is handled gently to protect aromatics, with careful fermentation and measured oak used to build texture and frame. Nothing is pushed. The goal is to let tannin, acid and fruit align naturally, creating a Pinot that unfolds slowly and ages gracefully.

In the glass it shows a deep ruby with garnet tones. Aromas are layered and complex, opening with dark cherry, wild strawberry and plum, followed by rose petal, clove, forest floor and a subtle earthy spice. There is a cool, stony freshness that anchors the bouquet.

The palate is medium to full bodied and finely structured, with concentrated red and dark fruit wrapped in firm, silky tannins. A bright acid spine gives drive and length, carrying flavours of cherry, berry and savoury herbs through a long, mineral finish. The texture is poised and architectural, balancing richness with tension.

It pairs beautifully with duck, lamb, venison, mushroom dishes and slow roasted meats. Drinking impressively now with air, it will cellar confidently for eight to twelve years, developing deeper earthy, gamey complexity while retaining its cool climate line.

This is Martinborough Pinot in a serious register, structured, fragrant and grounded in gravel and wind, a wine built as much for evolution as for immediate pleasure.