Pinot Noir 2020 (Spy Valley)

Cellar for up to 6 years. No need to decant before serving. Named after a secretive US base located up the road from the winery, Spy Valley is one of the few Marlborough wineries still owned aby the original founding family. The pioneering Johnson family planted their first vines here in 1993 on sunny slopes in the Lower Waihopai sub-region which was largely unexplored for viticulture at that time. They now have some 380 acres in the area which are certified żeby the New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing scheme. This elegant single estate Pinot offers exceptional value for money and has previously been awarded a gold medal at the New Zealand Wine of the Year Awards. Fruit is handpicked from the top terraces of the Johnson vineyard and hillside slopes of the Omaka vineyard. Individual blocks are fermented separately in open top fermenters and then aged in oak barrels for 11 months before blending and bottling. Zingy red fruit dominates on the nose, with attractive notes of pomegranate, raspberries, and cherries along with undertones of spice, dried herbs and baked earth. The fine tannins and bright streak of acidity on the palate makes this a great match for mature hard cheeses, hearty dishes like moussaka or lasagna, roast duck or even charcuterie.