(2022) From the cooler Southern Valleys with glacial soils, a small amount of whole bunch fruit was included in ferments with indigenous yeast. The wine matured in a mixture of new and older French oak barriques. Lots of meaty, charcuterie character on the nose here, that hessian note of the stalks, but a depth of blue-black fruit. The fruit here is solid and ripe, with savoury, dark fruit skin edges, a nicely roughening edge of bold tannin and creamy but decisive acidity. Rich, dense and savoury to the end, in quite a different, meaty style. Biodynamic.
(2022) I reviewed this same wine and vintage last year and liked it, awarding 90 points, as I do again now. The main reason for reviewing it again is that Costco have it listed at £15.99 at time of writing which makes it a very good buy - others have it for between £20 and £25. It's a substantial and yet fragrant Pinot, with perhaps just too much charry oak for its own good, but the sweetness of the ripe fruit and proper Pinot characters of truffle and briar wood are there too.
(2021) Aged in French oak barriques for 10 months, 20% new oak, this is made by Matt Thompson of Blank Canvas. Spices and interesting fruit character, some floral exotic notes, and earthy undertow beneath. The palate shows the creaminess a little more, plenty of sweetness to the fruit but depth of nutmeg spice and good acidity that gives this substance and layered interest.
(2021) What a truly lovely wine this is, perfumed and beautifully elegant, yet with real substance. It opens with such gorgeous aromatics, cranberry and cherry red fruits, but a pot-pourri spice melting into rose-hip and hints of briar. I tasted this wine from barrel and thought it showed huge perfume and promise back in January 2020, but now it is fully realised, the palate so perfectly poised between juicy and elegant fruit and hints of smokiness and forest floor, sweet tannins and finely-etched acidity balancing everything perfectly. Aged for a year in French oak, 30% new, this is a tour-de-force from Riverby.
(2021) Made with wild yeasts again, with 18 months in French oak barrels, 35% new and another nicely pale Pinot. So much sweet truffle, coffee and forest floor here, but a depth of ripe fruit too as another layer. That richness, that suggestion of mocha, is there on the palate, but the keen raspberry edge of the fruit and acidity sharpens everything up. This has great fruit but an unwavering clarity too, and lots of savoury orange and grapefruit in the mix for a formidable example of Marlborough Pinot at, or near, it's best.
(2021) Primarily from Nautilus's Clay Hills vineyard, 18% whole bunch grapes were fermented with indigenous yeast in open-top fermenters and aged in a mix of new and older French oak Barriques for 11 months. Saturated crimson, the nose has a sheen of polished wood, cool cherry scents and Pinot truffle and floral nuance. Much less dominated by the oak than the Opawa, but still slick and smooth, the ripe blackcurrant and cherry fruit given a bit of spice and bite from the more obvious tannins and perky acid presence, finishng dry and juicy if just a tad short.
(2021) Vibrant, quite deep crimson, there's an earthiness here, hints of briar and beetroot as well as deep cherry and plum fruit, a little lighter, more floral character flitting around the edges. In the mouth it is quite substantial and deep-fruited, but there's a keen edge through tight tannins and a fine minerally acidity, the oak adding spice and a hint of bitter charriness to add complexity to the finish.
(2020) Pale but bright in colour, this is a blend from three vineyards including a portion from the small berries of the cool southerly Ward sub-region. 2018 tended to give bigger berries so a nice component in 2018. Partial whole bunch. Wild ferment and in barrel for around a year, 5 - 10% new. Earthy with a touch of beetroot and rhubarb, but still good fruit, a touch of exotic spice. There’s a leafiness to this, through the fruit is sweet and ripe as it strikes the palate, decent concentration, though the juiciness of the acid and taut tannins keep it tight in the finish.
(2020) Fragrant, even high-toned at first, sandalwood and exotic spices, cherry and a dusty, tomato leaf note too. Quite unusual aromatically. On the palate it is savoury and meaty, an umami and sour finish that is meaty and mouth-watering. Tannin and acid adds a tangy element to the finish.No UK retail stockist listed at time of review.
(2020) This spend 10 months in French oak barriques, around 23% new. The majority went through spontaneous fermentation. Pretty colour, cherry pits and pomegrante on the nose, and equally pretty fruit, tight and fine tannins and cool acidity. A Lovely, elegant and approachable style.
