Escarpment Pinot Noir Kupe 08

Escarpment Vineyard ‘Kupe’ Pinot Noir 2008 (19.5/20), at 12.9% alc, all Abel clone, close-planted on Te Muna Road, 10 y.o. vines, 30% whole bunch, 12 months in 50% new French barriques. Pale ruby red, but brilliant in colour, this had a wonderfully full, ethereal nose of florals, cool and pure, blossoming with air time, just complexed by hints of oak spice. On palate showing superb sweetness of fruit, quite delicate and refined, the vibrancy quite remarkable, enhanced by fairly racy acidity. The structure is very tine-grained and underscores the wine. Layers of ethereal aromatic characters emerge. There are dimensions and the ‘peacock’s tail’. This should keep 7-8 years easily.  RC July 10

Escarpment Vineyard Martinborough ‘Kupe’ Pinot Noir 2008 (19.5-/20), at 12.9% alc, from the high density (6,700 vines per hectare) Te Muna Road site, Abel clone, 10 y.o. vines, the wine aged for 12 months in 50% new French barriques. Translucent ruby red with purple hues to the colour, this had a voluminous bouquet of vibrant red and dark berry fruits lifted by beautiful and exotic floral perfumes. The wine is an elegant one, with great poise and tension, the luscious cherry-liqueur like fruit quite unctuous in density. Underpinning the palate is very fine tannin grip, still overshadowed by the sweet fruit. Very refined, and showing delicacy yet great concentration in an effortless way. Outstanding.  RC March 10

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