2012 Foxes Island “Le Renard” – Icon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
At Foxes Island, we believe true excellence comes from preparation, tenacity, and patience. Great wine cannot be rushed; it is shaped by time — a rare and precious element we must respect and endure.
For Founder and Winemaker John Belsham, the Icon Series represents a lifelong pursuit: identifying the ideal vineyard site, selecting the perfect clone, and allowing the vines the years they need to mature before revealing their full potential.
Le Renard Pinot Noir is uniquely crafted from Dijon Clone 115, one of the few single clones capable of producing a complete, harmonious wine on its own. Clone 115 performs exceptionally in the ancient alluvial soils of the Awatere Valley, thriving under the region’s warm days, cool nights, and naturally low-yielding conditions. This combination produces Pinot Noir of purity, concentration, and age-worthy structure.
The fruit offers deep purple colour, naturally higher pH, and round, supple, beautifully ageable tannins. Aromatically expressive, the clone contributes layers of blue and red berries, dark cherry, rose petal, leather, and exotic spice, adding depth and intrigue to the final wine.
The 2012 vintage is an artfully structured, powerful yet elegant Marlborough Pinot Noir. A warm growing season allowed the tannins to fully ripen, creating a strong architectural framework. Fermented with indigenous vineyard yeast, the wine carries a true fingerprint of place — an unmistakable expression that Le Renard can only come from the Belsham Awatere Estate.
Aged in small French oak barrels, the wine offers generous layers of flavour, texture, and dimension. Unfined and naturally settled, it remains a fully vegan wine.
Released in July 2024, the 2012 Le Renard can be enjoyed today or confidently cellared for a further 15–20 years. Limited availability.
