Fabulous Pinot Noir with amazing depth of flavour especially at this price; a wine that really puts Marlborough's best foot forward thanks to winemaker Rebecca Salmond, who sources grapes from the region's Southern Valleys. Flavours are of ripe cherry, blackberry and spice lead into a lovely, elegant yet weighty palate with superb fruit ripeness and intensity. This wine will continue to age for two years plus and pairs well with lighter red meat dishes.

Established in 1864 by Jean Désiré Féraud, Monte Christo is the birthplace of Central Otago wine. Our wines are made with 100% estate-grown fruit sourced from our vineyards across three distinct sub-regions, the Alexandra Basin, Bannockburn and Pisa. Utilising sustainable farming practices and minimal intervention methods in the winery, the outcome is elegant, refined, and impeccably balanced wines epitomising the terroir of Central Otago.

Tasting note With dark plums and spice, this  Pinot Noir has bright acidity and a soft finish.

VINEYARDS 

Vineyard: Catherine’s (39%) Subregion: Pisa Elevation: 240m Clone(s):  115, 5, Abel Soil: Waenga alluvial sand and silt gravels, loam texture and moderately stoney, derived from schist 

Vineyard: Davishon (31%) Subregion:  Alexandra Basin Elevation: 160m Clone(s):  5, 115 Soil: Blackmans alluvial sand and silt gravels derived from schist and sandstone.

Vineyard: Confluence (21%) Subregion: Bannockburn Elevation: 210m Clone(s): 777, 115 Soil: Manuherikia loess deposited silt material overlaying sand and silt alluvial deposits derived from schist

Vineyard: Paris (9%) Subregion: Bannockburn Elevation: 220m Clone(s): 10/5, 115 Soil: Cromwell loess deposited sands derived from schist

WINEMAKING Brix: 23.3 (avg.) Whole Cluster: 6% Total time on skins: 25 days (avg.), including a five-day cold soak Fermentation: Wild yeasts Aging: 10 months in 33% new French oak

Commercial description

Upon opening a bottle, swirling the wine in a glass, let it breath in wine speak, and you discover welcoming, uplifting aromas of rich black cherry, dark plum and a subtle herbaceous hint of Vipers Bugloss flowers. Those all together evoke instantly a sensory picture of Central Otago.  The pleasant elusive bouquet uncovered intertwines beautifully with some subtle indication of mocha and spice, even a soupçon of wood smoke. The flavours revealed flow harmoniously onto the palate. The wine is richly textured and discloses an exquisite balance created by sensitive tension between refined acidity and velvety tannins. The warm, rich mouthfeel compliments the interaction between all elements and prolongs to a harmonious silky finish.

Commercial Description

made from fruit sourced from Ballochdale in the Awatere Valley. Proudly sitting 300m above sea level, the vineyard’s spectacular inland location provides the most desirable conditions for producing wines of identity and intensity.

Čuvar Guardians Pinot Noir 2023 is the first wine Sir George made from this vineyard he acquired in 2023. This wine displays vibrancy and a ripe red fruit profile typical of the regions, along with added depth, structure and spicy nuances from ageing in French oak barriques. While still youthful, the wine already shows nice complexity from the oak maturation and will age gracefully well into the end of the decade.

This bright ruby red Pinot Noir has aromas of ripe red cherry, cranberry and accented hints of savoury earthiness.

From the esteemed biodynamic Wrekin Vineyard nestled in Marlborough's Clay Soil Southern Valley's.

Undergoing 100% Whole bunch carbonic fermentation this wine is full of deep red and dark berry fruit character, dry yet fruit forward with soft tannins.

Mulberries, red currants, crème de cassis and old-fashioned raspberry notes present a French nouveau style wine – dangerously thirst quenching when lightly chilled and smoothly moorish at room temperature. A wine to be enjoyed now.

The Explorer wine showcases vibrant aromatics with a bouquet of fresh dried herbs, spicy blackcurrant, and redcurrant notes. Its focused, elegant palate delivers a harmonious balance of fruit weight, structure, and texture, providing a satisfying combination of strength, freshness, and poise. Certified organic, this wine is crafted with care, ensuring a natural expression of its origins. Grape 100% Pinot Noir

Red, purple hue. The nose has fragrant characters of Bright blackberry and plum with floral undertones. Beautifully balanced by savoury oak notes, with tobacco and cracked pepper. The palate is refined and tight, with real texture. Fruits form early but the wine is carried by a lovely savoury tone and whole bunch structure and tannins. The wine has the classic gladstone salinity running through it.

13.5% Alc | 750ml

The Vines in the vineyard are closely planted and have a low fruiting wire, giving very small vines which produce intensely flavoured fruit. Most clones are harvested and fermented separately, except for 15 rows that contain a mixture of the Dijon clones that are treated as one parcel and co-ferment for added complexity. 

On the nose aromas of plum dominant with mouth-watering notes of mushroom and forest floor. Sensitive oak handling has added a subtle vanilla and spice aspect.

Palate shows soft and lush, with a fleshy supple palate and fruit driven finish.
This wine will continue to develop for up to 10 years from vintage date.

Sourced from Pisa and Bannockburn, our Central Otago Rosé is dry, light-bodied and crisp, with fresh strawberry, raspberry and a hint of grapefruit.

Tasting Note: Dry, light and crisp, this rosé offers subtle notes of fresh strawberry, raspberry and grapefruit.

This Pinot Noir highlights the distinctive character of New Zealand’s southernmost wine-growing region. Produced in limited quantities, it captures the essence of Alexandra’s dramatic climate, with lifted aromatics, bright acidity, and an elegant, finely woven structure.

Tasting Note: This Pinot Noir displays notes of strawberries, blackberries, red flowers and cinnamon spice. On the palate, it is elegant with very fine tannins.

95 Points - Cameron Douglas, MS
"Excellent" - Mark Henderson, Otago Daily Times
94 Points - Stephen Wong, MW
94 Points - Candice Chow

A pinot noir that undergoes carbonic maceration and is designed to be enjoyed chilled.

An opulent, fullbodied Marlborough PinotNoir, harvested from a low yielding single vineyard. Fragrant red berry aromas and hints of spice extend to an opulent palate of ripe cherry, chocolate and dark plum. Beautifully structured and rich concentration from French Oak maturation.
Produced only in selected vintages.

Perfectly sized for modern life - Brilliant ruby colour.  Juicy, savoury deliciousness. Ripe cherry and plum with twings of spice, nut and dark chocolate.  Black tea tannins.  Premium Pinot Noir. Made for contemplation and unwinding.

Unfined.  Unfiltered. Hand harvested.    13% alc/bV