2016 Estate Pinot Noir

Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir | Awatere Valley, Marlborough

94 Points — Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

94 Points — Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

The 2016 Estate Pinot Noir expresses the entire Foxes Island vineyard, drawing fruit from seven river-formed terraces rising above the Awatere River. Shaped over millennia by glacial movement and untouched before planting, these ancient soils offer a distinctive lens through which to experience the diversity, precision, and natural elegance of the Awatere Valley.

Planted to three Dijon clones — 115, 667, and 777 — the vineyard provides a mosaic of aromatics, structure, and finesse. Fermented naturally with indigenous yeasts in open-top cuves, the wine reflects its origin with authenticity and depth. Throughout élevage it is handled with exceptional care — gravity-fed, naturally settled, and aged for ten months in small French oak barriques. Unfined and vegan friendly, it preserves the integrity of both site and season.

As with all Foxes Island wines, the Estate Pinot Noir is cellar-aged before release, offered only when its structure, texture, and layered complexity have beautifully aligned — ensuring both immediate enjoyment and further ageing potential for those who wish to cellar.

The 2016 vintage reveals dark berry fruit, savoury dried herbs, earthy mushroom, and delicate spice, supported by perfectly integrated French oak that is soft yet present, contributing gentle structural definition. The palate is refined and silky, with fine-grained tannins and a long, graceful finish that reflects both its pedigree and place.

A true expression of the Awatere Valley and a hallmark of John Belsham’s restrained, time-honoured approach to Pinot Noir, the 2016 Estate Pinot Noir offers elegance, authenticity, and exceptional value for both New Zealand and international consumers.