Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019
New Zealand Pinot Noir stands among the finest of the New World, and the Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir is a prime example. Located in the Fairhall Valley, Marlborough, this hillside site’s microclimates and clay soils create a complex flavour profile with intense dark cherry and berry notes. Traditional Dijon clones are handpicked, cold-soaked, and wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches for added complexity. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak, 55% new, enhancing its depth and texture.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Jun 2025)
Taste
Lifted aromas of red currant, dark berry fruits, cassis and mocha, with a subtle green peppercorn spice. The palate is rich, displaying complex dark cherry and mixed red berry fruits, layered over fresh herbs and cinnamon spice notes with an intriguing touch of mushroom and woodsmoke before finishing with refined acidity and rounded oak tannins. Time has mellowed and softened it, and there’s a genteel side to this which will develop over the next 3-5 years.
About the Producer
Rapaura Springs is located in Marlborough and is owned by two families, the Neylons and the Wiffins. The business was initially established for use as a fruit and vine nursery, but as the potential for making exceptional wines became clear, they shifted their emphasis to winemaking. Since 1985 wines have been their focus and they are now counted amongst New Zealand wine’s finest. Long-term advocates of sustainable winemaking, they have gone to great lengths to ensure they work with nature. This includes reusing grape waste as fertiliser, growing ground cover between vines that are trimmed by sheep, and investing in a multi-million-dollar water purification process that sees them use around 40% less water than the national average.
New Zealand Pinot Noir stands among the finest of the New World, and the Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir is a prime example. Located in the Fairhall Valley, Marlborough, this hillside site’s microclimates and clay soils create a complex flavour profile with intense dark cherry and berry notes. Traditional Dijon clones are handpicked, cold-soaked, and wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches for added complexity. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak, 55% new, enhancing its depth and texture.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Jun 2025)
Taste
Lifted aromas of red currant, dark berry fruits, cassis and mocha, with a subtle green peppercorn spice. The palate is rich, displaying complex dark cherry and mixed red berry fruits, layered over fresh herbs and cinnamon spice notes with an intriguing touch of mushroom and woodsmoke before finishing with refined acidity and rounded oak tannins. Time has mellowed and softened it, and there’s a genteel side to this which will develop over the next 3-5 years.
About the Producer
Rapaura Springs is located in Marlborough and is owned by two families, the Neylons and the Wiffins. The business was initially established for use as a fruit and vine nursery, but as the potential for making exceptional wines became clear, they shifted their emphasis to winemaking. Since 1985 wines have been their focus and they are now counted amongst New Zealand wine’s finest. Long-term advocates of sustainable winemaking, they have gone to great lengths to ensure they work with nature. This includes reusing grape waste as fertiliser, growing ground cover between vines that are trimmed by sheep, and investing in a multi-million-dollar water purification process that sees them use around 40% less water than the national average.
Description
New Zealand Pinot Noir stands among the finest of the New World, and the Rapaura Springs South Brook Vineyard Pinot Noir is a prime example. Located in the Fairhall Valley, Marlborough, this hillside site’s microclimates and clay soils create a complex flavour profile with intense dark cherry and berry notes. Traditional Dijon clones are handpicked, cold-soaked, and wild-fermented with 10% whole bunches for added complexity. The wine is then aged for ten months in French oak, 55% new, enhancing its depth and texture.
Vivino Rating: 4.2 (Jun 2025)
Taste
Lifted aromas of red currant, dark berry fruits, cassis and mocha, with a subtle green peppercorn spice. The palate is rich, displaying complex dark cherry and mixed red berry fruits, layered over fresh herbs and cinnamon spice notes with an intriguing touch of mushroom and woodsmoke before finishing with refined acidity and rounded oak tannins. Time has mellowed and softened it, and there’s a genteel side to this which will develop over the next 3-5 years.
About the Producer
Rapaura Springs is located in Marlborough and is owned by two families, the Neylons and the Wiffins. The business was initially established for use as a fruit and vine nursery, but as the potential for making exceptional wines became clear, they shifted their emphasis to winemaking. Since 1985 wines have been their focus and they are now counted amongst New Zealand wine’s finest. Long-term advocates of sustainable winemaking, they have gone to great lengths to ensure they work with nature. This includes reusing grape waste as fertiliser, growing ground cover between vines that are trimmed by sheep, and investing in a multi-million-dollar water purification process that sees them use around 40% less water than the national average.
