2016 TWR Pinot Noir

TWR

New Zealand / Marlborough / TWR

The 2016 release is a blend from two vineyards – our TWR home block and a small, hillside Omaka Valley block – Rawiri which is owned by our dear friends – Dave and Chris Eatwell. We were very excited to procure fruit from the Rawiri block as we have seen the quality it has produced over a number of years. 2016 was a stellar vintage in Marlborough which is typified by the resultant blend. All fruit for this wine was hand-picked, hand-sorted then destemmed and berry sorted as to ensure that only pristine, perfect Pinot berries make it into the fermenters. Gently transferred to small one tonne open fermenters, hand plunged up to 3 times daily. Some parcels small % whole bunch. Cold soak for 7-8 days, 5-7 day ferment, up to 14 days post ferment maceration. Pressed off on taste then filled to oak after 24hrs. In oak for 11 months – all French oak, various different coopers, 30% new, balance in older oak. Alcohol 13%; pH 3.6; TA 5g/L. – Anna Flowerday, TWR

December, 2020

Wine Enthusiast

95 points.

Anna and Jason Flowerday possess the oldest vineyards in Marlborough. This Pinot, while still young, sings of brambly red berries layered with woodsy spice, soy sauce, mushrooms and a stony minerality. The medium-weight palate is a testament to restraint and a cool climate. It's both elegant and austere, set for the long haul. Tannins are taut, spicy and fine, the fruit taking a back seat to the spice. Drink now through 2028.

October, 2018

Nick Stock

jamessuckling.com

93 points

This delivers a very complete and fruit-focused impression with the right balance of fresh red cherries and berries and more savory, woody and lightly earthy notes. The freshness and elegance is impressive.

August, 2018

Mike Bennie

The Wine Front

92 points

Spicy as! Clove, cinnamon, spiced cherries, with some raspberry/red berry fruitiness in tow. The palate is quite sinewy, hemmed with good-dusty tannins, quite restrained, leaner and dusty-savoury fruit profile, tightly wound and finishes long and squeaky. Structured, serious expression here.

January, 2019

Bob Campbell

The Real Review

93 points

Bright, fresh and flavoursome Pinot Noir with cherry, raspberry, red rose and spicy oak with a suggestion of savoury and dried herb character. An appealing and distinctive wine that is accessible now but should develop well with bottle age.

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About TWR

Te Whare Ra (TWR) is a small vineyard and winery located in the Marlborough sub-region of Renwick. The 11Ha vineyard was first planted in 1979 and since 2003 has been owned by winemakers Anna and Jason Flowerday. Yields are kept low, the vineyard is managed with a combination of organic and biodynamic practices and all the fruit is handpicked and hand-sorted.  The wines are made with minimal intervention in a small winery which has been specifically set up for small-batch winemaking.  The aromatic wines have carved out a reputation for TWR as a member of New Zealand’s elite, while the improbably good Syrah and Pinot Noir are opening people’s eyes to Marlborough’s potential for red wines of distinction.
Biodynamic producer, certified organic
http://naturalwine.org.nz/

About

Anna Flowerday hails from McLaren Vale and kicked off her career there amid a thoroughly talented pack of young winemakers in the mid-1990s. She worked for Hardys for seven years all up, culminating in an aromatically formative stint at Leasingham in Clare Valley. It was during her time at Hardys that she met and fell in love with Jason Flowerday, a third-generation viticulturalist from Marlborough. Eventually they struck out together and in 2003 bought Te Whare Ra, home to one of the oldest vineyards in Marlborough, originally planted in 1979. Together they manage the estate with a combination of organic and biodynamic practices and have cemented this region's reputation not only as an impeccable source of aromatic whites but also as a force to be reckoned with for both Pinot Noir and Syrah.