Rapaura Springs Rohe Awatere Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022

Rapaura Springs Rohe Awatere Valley Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022"Seductively complex and elegantly expressed, the bouquet shows sweet cherry, dried herb, earthy mushroom and toasted nut aromas, leading to a silky smooth palate that's plump and persistent. The wine offers gorgeous harmony and balance, finishing refined and satisfying. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit "A bouquet of pinosity and freshness with scents of red cherry and plum, some floral highlights and stony clay mineral qualities. On the

"’Seductively complex and elegantly expressed, the bouquet shows sweet cherry, dried herb, earthy mushroom and toasted nut aromas, leading to a silky-smooth palate that's plump and persistent. The wine offers gorgeous harmony and balance, finishing refined and satisfying. At its best: now to 2030" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

"’A bouquet of pinosity and freshness with scents of red cherry and plum, some floral highlights and stony clay mineral qualities. On the palate the flavours of roses and cherry, some strawberry and tropical red apple and raspberry flavours emerge adding depth and impact. Acidity and tannins frame the flavours very nicely with some youthful tautness and energy. Oak input is balanced and well placed. Best drinking from late 2024 through 2029" Cameron Douglas, MS

"You’re immediately struck by intense florals on the first sip, exotic, spicy tones and layers of pot pourri. Lush, soothing, lightly coloured yet generously proportioned, this pinot bursts with crushed rhubarb, red cherry and smooth berry tea flavours. The tannins are youthful and nicely clingy and they accentuate the long, fruity finish" Yvonne Lorkin

This elegant Pinot Noir offers pretty aromas of redcurrant, raspberries and dried herbs, which lead into earthy truffle and crushed fennel spice. The palate shows lovely bright strawberries and raspberry coulis, with layers of fresh herbs and vanilla spice.

The soils in the Awatere are complex, encompassing a matrix of shallow to moderately deep silty loams, with pockets of sand, gravel and clay on higher terraces. The sub-region is drier and cooler with plenty of lowvigour sites, well suited to Pinot Noir.

The 2022 growing season began with significant rain, marking the end of three years of drought in Marlborough. A period of warmth in early December produced a welcome and better than average fruitset. In late February we had a couple of significant rains which replenished the soil moisture levels that had reduced during summer. During the two weeks that followed we had cool days and nights, which meant the acidities remained on the high side. Harvest coincided with the peak of New Zealand’s Omicron outbreak, which put some pressure on staffing. Excellent teamwork meant we were able to harvest our fruit as it was ready, retaining vibrant acidity and concentrated fruit flavour. The Pinot Noir fruit was handpicked from low-vigour clay terrace vineyards, before cold soaking for a week prior to fermentation using natural yeasts. A total of 20% was fermented as whole bunch. After fermentation, the must was pressed and the wine aged for ten months in French oak, including 30% of 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.