2021 Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir

Its Origins

Over the last 35 years, Escarpment have created Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris wines that are known for a structure and fruit expression that carry accents of theirs sites and their Martinborough region. The ines are now sculpted by Winemaker Tim Bourne and Viticulturist Rowan Hoskins from fruit entirely originating from Martinborough vineyards on the fabled alluvial gravels. The former and original owners of Escarpment — Larry and Sue McKenna, Robert and Mem Kirby — met by chance in 1998, but seeing that New Zealand had great things to offer the world of Pinot Noir they went into business the same year. Using winemaker Larry McKenna's local knowledge they settled on Martinborough’s alluvial Te Muna terrace, then hardly on the map but now a renowned sub-region. The name chosen was descriptive of the vineyard’s distinctive landscape but also makes reference to the famous limestone escarpment that forms the spine of France’s Burgundy region, from which the wines of Escarpment still draw inspiration.