2024 Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir, Marlborough

You can see the beautiful quality of the Clayvin Vineyard in this medium-bodied wine, showing strawberries, cherries and hints of spices and flint with a bright finish. A tannin-driven pinot from Marlborough: uncommon for the region but not unexpected from this great site. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir is one of Marlborough’s most site expressive Pinot Noirs, drawn from a dramatic hillside vineyard in the Southern Valleys that consistently delivers structure, savoury depth and genuine aging potential. The Clayvin Vineyard sits on steep north facing slopes with clay rich soils over fractured greywacke, a combination that naturally limits vigour and produces small berries with thick skins. This cooler, elevated site experiences strong diurnal shifts, slowing ripening and building Pinot Noir with tension, aromatic detail and firm natural acidity rather than simple fruit weight. Clayvin has long been recognised as one of Marlborough’s standout Pinot Noir vineyards, prized for its seriousness and mineral drive.

Giesen Wines was founded in the early 1980s by brothers Theo, Alex and Marcel Giesen, whose deep vineyard focus helped shape Marlborough’s evolution beyond Sauvignon Blanc. Clayvin represents the pinnacle of their Pinot Noir work, with fruit handled gently and vinified to highlight vineyard character rather than winemaking imprint. Fermentation is carefully managed to build texture and savoury complexity, and oak is used with restraint to support structure without masking the site’s earthy, mineral personality. The result is a Pinot Noir that feels confident, composed and distinctly Clayvin.

In the glass the wine shows a deep ruby colour with excellent clarity. Aromas are complex and layered, offering dark cherry, black raspberry and plum skin alongside dried herbs, forest floor, subtle spice and a distinctive ironstone note. The palate is medium to full bodied by Pinot standards, delivering concentrated red and dark fruit, fine but persistent tannins and a long, savoury finish driven by acidity and mineral tension. It pairs beautifully with duck, lamb, mushroom dishes and roasted vegetables, and it rewards patience in the cellar, evolving gracefully over eight to twelve years as truffle, spice and earthy complexity emerge.

Giesen Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir is a benchmark Marlborough Pinot Noir, combining site intensity, balance and authenticity, and showcasing just how compelling Pinot Noir can be from the region’s best hillside vineyards.