Greywacke Pinot Noir 2023

Greywacke Pinot Noir leans into the darker, more savoury side of Marlborough Pinot. Wild cherry, bramble berries and plum are layered with lilac, cocoa, dried herbs and woodsmoke, while bright acidity and dusty, finely grained tannins bring shape to the generous fruit. The wine is built largely from hillside fruit at Yarrum Vineyard, on the ridge between Brancott and Ben Morven, one of the Southern Valleys sites Greywacke has long relied on for Pinot Noir. Deep enough for duck or lamb, polished enough to enjoy on its own, this is a serious red that still remembers to be inviting.

What the winery says:

The fruit comes from hillside vineyards across Marlborough’s Southern Valleys, principally Yarrum Vineyard, with smaller parcels from the Omaka and Brancott Valleys. The hand-picked grapes are chilled and sorted before wild fermentation in open-top vessels, with partial whole-bunch inclusion adding lift and savoury complexity. The wine is then matured for 11 months in French oak. Dark chocolate, plum compote, bramble berries and lilac lead into tamarillo, wild cherry and grilled nectarine, supported by dusty tannins and a long, driven finish.

What the experts say:

Cameron Douglas MS, 95/100 & Outstanding
“Fabulous bouquet with complexity and depth, purity of fruit and a sense of site, winemaking style and intrigue.”

Shanteh Wale, Halliday Wine Companion, 95/100
“Well packaged as a whole, slinky, juicy and with just enough savoury turned-earth tones to anchor the oak spice.”

Stephen Wong MW, The Real Review, 93/100 & Top Value NZ
“Complex, with myriad small berries, dried herb, woodsmoke, cinnamon and some darker notes of dried currants.”