REGION
The Awatere Valley is a sub-appellation within Marlborough. It has deep Greywacke soils compacted over millions of years by ancient glaciers. Huge boulders, carried down the Awatere River, are strewn across the valley floor. River shingles, gravels and silts help bind these large rocks. The vineyards are partially protected from the prevailing north-westerly winds by a broad range of mountain peaks. Awatere valley wines are particularly prized for their intense aromatics, ripe flavours, dynamic textures and concentration.
VINEYARD
Vavasour’s 85 hectare (196-acre) estate vineyard is located at one of the marquee sites for grapes in the Awatere Valley. The climate here is noteworthy for its wide diurnal temperature swings - an attribute that contributes to strong personality and incredible balance in the wines. The vineyard’s soils are low in fertility and are comprised of stones and pebbles mixed with clay and loam. The rainfall ranges from 279-406 millimeters (11-16 inches) a year, very arid by any measurement.
WINEMAKING
The 2022 features a number of high-quality, low-yielding clones - 114 , 115, 667 and 777 - that have been carefully matched to individual micro-terroirs within the vineyard. To extract optimum colour, flavour and tannin we used traditional, Burgundian hand-plunging techniques during fermentation. Eleven months in French oak barriques (30% new) provided additional aromatics, flavours and structure to the wine.
TASTING NOTES
All Vavasour wines are pure expressions of their varietal designation and the singular terroir of our estate vineyard. This pinot is high toned, open and spicy with intense aromatics and layers of ripe juicy fruit flavours, strawberries and cherries. There is also an underlying stratum of vanilla from 11 months of aging in French oak. The tannins are soft and silky and the finish is impressively long.
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