Our Reserve Pinot Noir is hand harvested from our favorite section of Māori Point Vineyard. We have been observing this special area and tasting the wines made specifically from it since 2013, and we now call this area our "Professors' Block". This one-acre block of vines was planted in 2002 with the Pinot Noir types Abel and 10/5, and it consistently creates our most elegant, layered, and long-lived Pinot Noir. The moderately cool temperatures of the 2016 growing season delivers classic Pinot Noir elegance without weight, with flavours of forest berries and vanilla with hints of violets and wood spice. The wine has aged beautifully, showing complex, yet soft silky tannins and a long savoury finish. We hold back some wines like this in our library, because of how well they age and their future potential. We expect this wine will continue to improve until approximately 2028-2029, and will be beautiful for years after that, given past vintages.   

Wild yeasts, unfined, unfiltered, vegan friendly, minimal sulfites.

5 Stars - Michael Cooper, "Deep, bright ruby, it has a fragrant, savoury, spicy bouquet. Mouthfilling, it is concentrated and supple, with deep, ripe, plummy, spicy, slightly nutty flavours, showing good complexity, and a finely structured, harmonious finish."

5 Stars - Raymond Chan, "The nose is deep and concentrated with flavours of red fruit, earth, savoury cured meat, game, entwined with deep red florals, thyme, subtle cedar and a layer of schist mineral. The aromas are concentrated with richness. Medium-full bodied, flavours of spiced plums, dark cherries and deep red florals, melded with development of dried thyme, game, cured meat, enlivened by a subtle layer of schist mineral. The aromas are complex with good intensity and weight. Fine-grained tannin extraction, reminiscent of Pu-er tea tannins, supple and earthy, along with spices and sweet liquorice carries the wine to a long sustained finish. Complexing flavours, gently nutty, warm chocolate, cedar characters unfolding as the wine aerated. This is an elegantly developed Pinot Noir with complexing flavours and interest"

96 points - Sam Kim, "Immensely complex and engaging, the wine shows dark cherry, sweet plum, vanillin oak and smoked game characters on the nose with a hint of earthy mushrooms. The palate displays excellent concentration and plush mouthfeel, wonderfully supported by layers of silky tannins, finishing impressively long and velvety. Graceful, expansive and hugely appealing with delightful savoury nuances."