Editors notes
This wine was grown on the Barton Vineyard, Huangarua Road, Martinborough from vines 27 years old.
A combination of deep alluvial gravels which the Martinborough Terraces are renowned for, and a blend of many clones grown in a very sheltered spot always rewards us with a classic example of New World Pinot Noir.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Brand
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Location
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Cellaring
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Closure
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Oak Type
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Earthy
- Herbal
- Red Fruits
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Palate
- Cedar
- Red Cherry
- Strawberry
Food Pairings
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Poultry
Critic Scores & reviews
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Cameron Douglas MS
95""Fresh, very bright, powerful and youthful with tension and poise in the bouquet. Complex, very detailed and individual, this is the 1er Cru if not GC of Martinborough. Complex, lengthy, curious and long. Red berries, raspberry and dark cherry, plenty of pebbles and silty soil flavours. A fine toasty oak layer with moments of clove and vanilla, a moment of bacon oak. Frim tannins and contrasting acidity, long finish and totally delicious. ""
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Bob Campbell MW
95""Distinctive, firmly-structured pinot noir with plum, dried herb, wood-smoke and spicy oak flavours. Alcohol and fruit sweetness is nicely balanced by peppery tannins. It can be appreciated now but needs time to develop its full potential""
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Raymond Chan Wine Reviews
95""Deep, ruby-red with a deep purple hue, lighter on the rim. The nose is savoury and wholesome, with aromas of blackberries, cherry plum at core, interweave ash, earth, deep floral and an amalgam of spices. Medium-full bodied, scents of cherry plum, blackberries melded with violet, black pepper, unveiling earth, ash, savoury elements. The mouthfeel is broad with density of fruit and earth, rich yet bright. Lacy acidity links the fruit, dark floral fragrance and earth details provide vitality and energy. Fine-grained tannin coated the palate with silk, supple yet showing strength and gentle power. This is a beautifully structured Pinot Noir that has subtleties, strength and power on a silky palate.""
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
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- Variety Pinot Noir
- Vintage 2020
- Brand Escarpment
- Cellaring 5-10 Years
- Wine Type Red
- Alcohol Percentage 13.3% Alcohol
Escarpment 'Te Rehua' Pinot Noir 2020-
Cameron Douglas95 points
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Bob Campbell MW95 points
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Raymond Chan Wi95 points
$69.99
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
New Zealand
The New Zealand wine industry is one of the younger wine regions in the world, whose popularity grew immensely when Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc hit the world wine scene, quite unique in style when compared to the typical French Sancerre.
Wine is successfully cultivated on both the North and South islands from a latitude of 36 degrees in the North to 45 degrees for the most southerly wine region in the world, the South Island's Central Otago. The majority of regions are located in free-draining alluvial valleys except for Waiheke Island and Kawarau Gorge in Central Otago and benefit from the moderating effect of the maritime climate as no vineyard is more than 80 miles from the ocean. With plentiful sunshine hours and cool evening sea breezes, the grapes thrive.
Sauvignon Blanc is the major white variety people will think of when you mention New Zealand Whites, however fantastic Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer and less commonly Viognier, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Blanc. Pinot Noir is the most widely planted red variety in New Zealand although Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot (Bordeaux Blends), Syrah are also grown and in even smaller amounts, Tempranillo and Montepulcianos can too be found. Sparkling wines of very high standards are also made in New Zealand.
The key wine regions in New Zealand include Auckland, Canterbury, Central Otago, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Marlborough and Nelson.
Wairarapa
Maori for 'glistening waters’, the Wairarapa is located in the southeast corner of New Zealand's North Island, about an hour away from Wellington. Amongst the small, quaint towns and rolling fields of livestock, you'll find some of New Zealand's finest wines.
The small community of boutique winemakers in the region work hard to preserve the unique terroir of the region. Wairarapa offers hot summers, cool nights, and long, dry autumns that are perfect for ripening. The strong winds and harsh, semi-maritime climate leads to low yields of healthy, small grapes with very thick skins - these grapes are treated with care to make some outstanding wine.
Martinborough
The wine region of Martinborough is located in South Wairarapa on the southern end of the north island, and in only 30 years or so has gone from a sleepy colonial town to a world-class wine village.
The region has picked up numerous international awards since the 1990’s with Pinot Noir picking up the lion’s share of the medals. Pinot Noir is undoubtedly the flagship wine of the region, with some incredible wines being produced.
The mineral-laden soils, combined with the cool climate provide the perfect backdrop for Pinot Noir, much as it has for centuries in Burgundy, France. Indeed the Pinot Noirs produced are very Burgundian in style, a compliment not adorned to many other wine regions worldwide.
The micro-climate of Martinborough is rather warm, with hills both to the east and west. Most all of the vineyards are located in thin strips around the northern and eastern sides of the town or on the Dry River to the south of Martinborough. All the vineyards follow dry riverbeds, which have the desired soil structure for viticulture.
Although Pinot Noir is the king of the reds, Shiraz is also cultivated and in the whites, Riesling, Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris are grown.
About the brand Escarpment
It would be impossible to discuss the great Pinot Noir without bringing up the man, the legend Larry McKenna. Known as 'Mr Pinot'. Though Adelaide-born, he's been spending the last 30+ years forging his reputation as one of New Zealand's greatest winemakers. He began his journey at Martinborough vineyards in the 1980s, and famously won a place in the Top 20 Pinot Noirs of the World with his 1998 Martinborough Reserve Pinot Noir.
In 1998 he founded Escarpment and crafts wines there with utmost attention to quality. Yields from his close-planted vines produce a tiny 1kg of fruit per vine - literally only 1 bottle per plant. He crafts an estate Pinot Noir and a thoroughly impressive range of single vineyard Pinots when vintage conditions meet his increasingly high standards.
His deft touch with Martinborough fruit, not limited to Pinot Noir, extends to Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and Riesling.
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