It’s not just the grinding winds from the west or the imposing presence of Tapuae-O-Uenuku, the towering peak that looms over Marlborough’s Awatere Valley. It’s not just the deep, rocky soils formed millions of years ago by relentless glaciers that molded the landscape. It’s not just the arid climate marked by sundrenched days and cold nights. It’s the combination of all those things together that shape the inimitable character, flavours and textures of Vavasour wines.
Winemaker Stu Marfell was born and raised a few kilometres from the Vavasour winery, and it could be argued that his connection to the land has played a role in developing his natural-born affinity with the soils from which he draws the Vavasour wines.
“To grow up in the Awatere is to have the intense winds either at your back or in your face, to know that hot summer cloudless days are followed by cold summer nights and it means you’ve had the area’s renowned sedimentary ‘greywacke’ soil under your fingernails more than once. In short, it means you know this place”.
2020 Vavasour Pinot Noir
The 2020 Pinot Noir is bright ruby red in colour. The bouquet is bright and lively with aromas of cherries, wild strawberries and plums. The palate is bold and juicy with red cherry and fresh plums forming an intense core with fine grained tannins giving the wine structure and length. Enjoyed beautifully on its own or paired deliciously with mushroom risotto and or with dark chocolate for something sweet.
