Decanter 

Emma Jenkins mw

October 2024

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ESCARPMENT KUPE PINOT NOIR 2022

97 POINTS

Tasted by Emma Jenkins MW New Zealand Pinot Noir: Vintage report and 40 new releases

Drinking Window 2024 - 2035

Nose is pretty closed but there are intriguing, inviting flashes of earth, graphite, blue florals, damson plum, cherry and wild raspberry. Quite a silky, sweet-fruited attack, then dense and savoury. A definite step up in concentration. The oak has been swallowed up and the tannin structure is more polished and riper than the other wines; no shortage of them either. Focused, long and silky.

ESCARPMENT MARTINBOROUGH PINOT NOIR 2020

95 POINTS

Tasted by Emma Jenkins MW New Zealand Pinot Noir: Vintage report and 40 new releases

Drinking Window 2024 - 2032

A little shy at first, then layers of fruit (cranberry, pomegranate, red plum), earth, minerals and spice. Good weight and silkiness on the palate with quite a firm tannin backbone and some oak spice (30% new French), but this is super-youthful and there’s plenty of rounded fruit to meld with the structural elements. Just a baby and a little buttoned down, but should blossom beautifully.