THE KING'S WRATH PINOT NOIR 2020

TASTING NOTE

Inviting aromatics of blackberries and mocha are followed by a floral lift and dried cloves. The weighty palate holds a fine-grained tannin structure which intertwines with notes of raspberry and plum. The wine finishes intensely with a lingering silky palate that harmonises with the juicy Marlborough acidity.

FOOD MATCH

Highly versatile, this wine matches well to gamey meats, mushrooms as well as rich fish such as tuna or trout. We recommend enjoying The King’s Wrath 2020 with seared eye fillet, smoked mushrooms and a port jus.

CELLARING POTENTIAL

Up to 10 years.

ORIGIN

Sourced from selected Pinot Noir vineyards in the Southern Valleys of Marlborough.

VARIETY

100% Pinot Noir.

WINEMAKING

Selected clones were hand harvested from clay-based vineyards in the Southern Valleys. The fruit was chilled and mostly destemmed into small fermenters for a week-long cold soak helping deepen the colour. A portion was kept as whole bunches to provide structure and complexity. Fermentation occurred over another week with strains of yeast isolated from Burgundian vineyards. The wines were then pressed to French oak puncheons (50% new) to mature for 11 months in which time they underwent Malolactic fermentation.

ANALYSIS

• Alcohol - 14.1%
• pH - 3.72
• T.A - 5.34g/L
• Residual sugar - 0.4g/L
• Vegan Certified

VINTAGE

The growing season and harvest of 2020 was a thoroughly “good news” story despite the challenges thrown at us by COVID-19. Bud burst came early this season, but cool dry weather meant leaf development and canopy growth was drawn out.

By November temperatures warmed up and rainfall levels returned to near normal. By December the above average warmth contributed to early and speedy flowering in early season varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Between Christmas and March, the season bounced back strongly with a very consistent period of hot, dry weather; the driest Marlborough has seen in 88 years. Harvest began with fruit for our sparkling wine programme and moved swiftly through our Waihopai River Vineyard and finally onto cooler areas of Leefield Station.

We believe the quality of the wine to come from our Waihopai and Southern Valleys vineyards will make 2020 memorable – delivering aromatic wines full of bright and exuberant freshness– a vintage to be remembered for more than just a pandemic.

GOLD

• The Global Pinot Noir Masters 2022

93 POINTS

• Winestate New Releases 2022
• Cameron Douglas MS 2022

"There's no mistaking the pinosity and pizazz of this wine with core aromas and flavours of cherries, red apple and plum. A layer of fruit spice and mild oak qualities along with a stony soil note bring together a wine of freshness and balance, pinosity and charm. Tannins are fine to moderate and acidity adds crunch and freshness. Balanced and well made, ready to drink from late 2022 through 2026+."

17.5/20 POINTS

• DrinksBiz Annual Pinot Noir Report: Joelle Thomson 2022

"Hand-harvested grapes grown on the hills of Marlborough’s Southern Valleys were given a portion of whole bunch fermentation to add aromatic lift to their dark black cherry and spice flavours. Aged in French oak, 50 per cent new, for 11 months, this wine’s impressive structure and succulent fruity characters suggest it could age for up to 10 years."