Rapaura Springs Rohe Southern Valleys Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021

Rapaura Springs Rohe Southern Valleys Marlborough Pinot Noir 2021French oak Dark plum Subtle spice Polished tannins "It's splendidly fruited and elegantly perfumed with dark plum, violet, cedar and subtle game notes, leading to a concentrated palate delivering terrific fruit richness and textural mouthfeel, while remaining refined and poised. Wonderfully framed by loads of fine polished tannins, making it harmonious and attractively structured. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Sep 2022 "Deep ruby red

• French oak
• Dark plum
• Subtle spice
• Polished tannins

"It's splendidly fruited and elegantly perfumed with dark plum, violet, cedar and subtle game notes, leading to a concentrated palate delivering terrific fruit richness and textural mouthfeel, while remaining refined and poised. Wonderfully framed by loads of fine polished tannins, making it harmonious and attractively structured. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Sep 2022

"Deep ruby-red with a black core, even colour throughout. This has a gentle, earthy bouquet, with aromas of dark cherry, plum and blackberry entwined with dark herb, liquorice, clay and earth. Medium-full bodied, aromas of dark cherry, plum and blackberry have a savoury edge, unfolding dark herb, clay and earthy elements. A hint of black tea lingers on the finish. Earthy and savoury nuances, along with a fine-grained, velvety tannin extraction, broaden the palate and contribute to a fine grip. Plush acidity lengthens and lightens up the rich, broody elements. This richly flavoured Pinot Noir possesses dark fruit, herb and earth on a weighty palate with plush acidity" Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Reviews, Sep 2022

"A youthful, fruity, varietal and vibrant bouquet with aromas of black cherry and dark plum then brown spcies of toasty barrel and a dry stone earthy quality. Taut, firm and dry on the palate with a core of red fruits from dark cherry to tamarillo, a sweet wood and dried herb flavours then fine toasty barrel flavours including clove and vanilla. Finr through firmish tannins and medium+ acidity. A lovely wine, still developing woth best drinking from 2024  through 2030" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Sep 2022

"Vibrant, tangy pinot noir with bright cherry, plum, red rose, blueberry and spicy oak flavours together with a suggestion of fresh herb characters. High energy pinot that could have been better with more restrained herbals" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review, Aug 2022

Dark cherry, violet and cinnamon spice aromas complement red fruit, chocolate and subtle spice flavours on the palate. The fruit flavours are framed with supple tannins and a core of juicy acidity. This wine is immediately enjoyable but will continue to drink well for the next eight years.

The clay rich soils of the Southern Valleys sub-region naturally restrict vine vigour and produce Pinot Noir fruit with concentrated flavours and supple tannins. The subregion sits inland, away from the coast, with cooler evening temperatures during the critical ripening period. Some of the oldest hillside Pinot Noir plantings in Marlborough are found in this sub-region.

2021 was one of the earliest and shortest Marlborough vintages on record. The growing season was the third in a series of drought vintages, the stress on the vines was compounded by a huge wind run. The combination of some early frost events and a poor flowering resulted in lower yields and smaller bunches than usual. This, combined with the dry conditions, has meant that disease levels are incredibly low this year, resulting in pristine fruit with good concentration. The fruit for this wine was hand-harvested from vineyards planted with traditional Dijon clones, located in the Ben Morven, Waihopai and Omaka Valleys. The fruit was cold soaked for five days, prior to fermentation, which included 25% whole bunch. After fermentation the must was pressed and the wine aged for ten months in 225L French Oak Barriques, with a total of 32% new oak.

Rohe, meaning territory in Te Reo Māori, is a range of wines that showcase Marlborough’s sub-regions and share our perspective of a remarkable region. Each bottle of Rapaura Springs tells the story of a lifetime here in Marlborough. Of water and wine, and of generations of family working with nature. Adorning every label on every bottle of our wine is a simple symbol – a circle of rocks that signify the pure spring in our home vineyard in the heart of Marlborough. The Rapaura Springs are more than just a life force for our vines and a logo on our bottles. Their purity is a daily reminder to protect the water and land that make our wines exceptional.