The Sorrell Wines Churton Pinot Noir 2023 is a thoughtfully made organic Pinot Noir from Sorrell Wines, a boutique producer in Marlborough, New Zealand that focuses on small-batch, organic and biodynamic fruit and minimal-intervention winemaking to let each vineyard’s character shine. Marlborough, especially the Waihopai Valley / Southern Valleys, has a cool climate and varied soils that lend Pinot Noir bright fruit purity, fresh acidity and elegant structure, and Sorrell works with sites that reflect that terroir. The 2023 Churton Pinot Noir comes from a single block of clone 777 at Churton Vineyard, where grapes were hand-picked, gravity fed into open top fermenters with about 20 % whole bunch inclusion, and spent around 28 days on skins before gentle pressing. After wild or vineyard yeast fermentation it matured for about 16 months in seasoned French oak and completed 100 % malolactic fermentation, creating a balanced and expressive wine. Aromas show fragrant cherries, raspberries and blackberries with floral touches like rose petals, and gentle notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove. On the palate there’s a core of wild strawberry and bramble fruit, lively minerality and a lovely tension between fine tannins and fresh acidity, giving structure and length through the finish. This Pinot is elegant yet structured, with brightness and savoury complexity that make it versatile with food. It pairs beautifully with roasted duck, pork, autumn game, mushroom dishes or anything that benefits from fine acidity and delicate red fruit richness. Why we love this wine? We love the playfulness of the red fruits and spice!
