2017 Kupe Pinot Noir
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Tasting notes
This pinot has an x-factor that sets it apart. Thereâs an almost peppery edge to the violet, blueberry and red-cherry nose with sappy and earthy elements, as well as roasted game and fragrant baking spices. The palate has a very plush, attractive and fresh array of vibrant and detailed pinot fruit on offer. Long and precise. Drink or hold. Screw cap.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate
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Made from own-rooted Abel Clone fruit grown near the winery off Te Muna Road, the 2017 Kupe Pinot Noir boasts the lowest alcohol level (12.5%) I recall seeing on an Escarpment Pinot Noir. It's done a great job integrating the 70% whole-bunch fermentation, leaving behind spicy, black cherry-laced aromas and flavors. Despite the modest alcohol, it's full-bodied, plush and rich, with a long finish and complex herb and spice shadings.
About the producer
Based in Martinborough, Escarpment is one of New Zealand’s leading producers of Pinot Noir. The estate’s top cuvée Kupe is widely regarded as a benchmark example of the region’s potential for producing world-class Pinot Noir.