The Wrekin Needle’s Eye Pinot Noir 2015 is a beautifully aged, small-production single-vineyard Pinot Noir from The Wrekin Vineyard in Marlborough’s Southern Valleys of New Zealand. The Wrekin is a family-run, certified organic estate known for hand-harvesting its vineyards, nurturing healthy soils and crafting wines that truly express the terroir of north-facing slopes with clay and greywacke soils. This 2015 vintage showcases the exceptional growing season of that year and the vineyard’s commitment to quality. It was made from fruit picked across all the original Pinot blocks, fermented predominantly with wild yeasts and matured in French oak, resulting in a wine with integrated tannins, vibrant acidity and layered complexity. Aromas and flavours intertwine red and dark berries, maraschino cherry and savoury Mediterranean-herb notes, with subtle spice and cedar coming through as the wine’s tertiary characteristics develop with age. At around 14 % alcohol this Pinot is medium- to full-bodied yet refined, with soft, well-integrated tannins described as “an iron fist in a silk glove”. It has already shown pleasing development and continues to evolve in bottle, and many critics believe its best drinking window extends further as it ages gracefully. This wine pairs beautifully with rich game, roasted duck, slow-braised lamb or mushroom-based dishes, and it also benefits from decanting to showcase its nuanced layers. As a limited-release, club-only wine, it’s a rare piece of The Wrekin’s history and a testament to the site’s potential for long-lived Pinot Noir. Why we love this wine? We love the complex herbaceous side of this Pinot!
