Ata Rangi’s Masters Pinot Noir received its inaugural release with the 2020 vintage. The vineyard, owned and farmed by Ata Rangi winemaker Helen Masters, lies just four kilometres south of the Martinborough terrace. Here, clay is naturally found throughout the gravelly soil and it helps to retain moisture, and keep temperatures cooler than typical Martinborough terroir. Masters is a kaleidoscopic expression of pinot noir, featuring aromas of mulberry, baking spices, rosewater, and blood orange, and a palate of rich fruit, pomegranate, nutmeg, and pink peppercorn. The influence of clay soils provides Masters with its expansive, signature texture. Masters is fermented with indigenous yeasts and 70% whole bunches. After two to three weeks in tank, the wine is pressed, and malolactic fermentation is completed in oak. Masters is aged in French oak (30% new) for 11 months, before it is blended, and then held for a further eight months before it is bottled.

Defying those who deemed it impossible, the Mt. Lord Vineyard site lies on a steep slope high up facing east, overlooking the Coal River Valley. The combination of low yielding, multiclonal blocks and our small batch winemaking philosophy, using the finest of French oak barriques, challenge and excite us each harvest.

Bouchard owns two parcels at the top and bottom of the famed walled vineyard, although presently their Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru comes from the top part, as the bottom has been pulled up. This part of this famous, 50 hectare walled vineyard tends to produce the best wine that have Grand Cru concentration and structure.

JEAN-NOEL GAGNARD Santenay 1er Cru Clos de Tavennes , Santenay

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is simply known 'The Domaine' in Burgundy. The Domaine has positioned itself as the world authority in Pinot Noir through over a century of painstaking attention to detail in both the vineyard and the winery. The Échézeaux vineyard contains very little top soil above the hard limestone base and as such, the fruit has no trouble in ripening. This was the case in 2007 again and the wine produced is an extremely elegant style, but balanced with real power and concentration. The Échézeaux continues its recent history of comparing very favourably to the higher reputed siblings in the Domaine stable.