An intensely perfumed nose
of lavender, jasmine, and sweet spice layered over dark
cherry and exotic incense.
Appearance
Bright scarlet in colour.
Palate
The palate is powerful yet not
overt, with silk-laden tannins and impeccable balance. This
culminates in a commanding, expressive Te Muna release
that is both refined, seductive and loaded with energy.
Vinification
This thin-skinned, large-berry vintage resulted in the
majority of blocks being destemmed, with only selected
older-vine parcels fermented with more whole-clusters.
Fermentation was carried out with indigenous yeasts over
an average of 16 days on skins, with gentle maceration
predominantly through pumpovers. The wine underwent
100% malolactic fermentation in French oak barriques and
was aged for 10 months, with one racking prior to blending.
Unfined, it was bottled in February 2026.
Vintage Notes
A warm, dry spring led to excellent fruit set and higher
yields, with much-needed rain in December followed by
a mild, even finish to the season. An elongated harvest
began on 22nd March sourced from our new plantings
at the northern end of Te Muna Road, concluding
three weeks later with fruit from an Abel clone block.
Winemakers Comments
Te Muna Pinot Noir is a refined expression of our
Martinborough estate, shaped by the exceptional terroir of Te
Muna Valley—elegant, savoury, and layered. Grown on the
upper terrace, where silty loam overlays gravel and volcanic ash,
the fruit benefits from cool nights, high winds, and meticulous
vine management. With over ten carefully selected clones across
diverse blocks, each harvested and vinified separately, this Pinot
Noir is artfully blended to capture complexity, purity, and a
deep sense of place.
Winemakers Comments