MICHAEL COOPER | MARCH 2025

Michael Cooper

March 2025

Escarpment Martinborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024

4.5 stars

The youthful, debut 2024 vintage is from grapes grown on the Martinborough Terrace and mostly handled in stainless steel tanks; 20 per cent was fermented in French oak puncheons (10 per cent new). Bright, light lemon/green, it is full-bodied, with vigorous, ripe, tropical fruit flavours, gentle herbal notes and good acid spine.  Fresh and dry (2.8 grams/litre of residual sugar), with North Island restraint, it shows very good weight, concentration and complexity.  Best drinking 2026+.

Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir 2022

5 stars

Set for a long life, the 2022 vintage was estate-grown in Te Muna Road, matured for 20 months in French oak barriques (42 per cent new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Full, bright ruby, it is a powerful, well-structured wine, concentrated and savoury, with a lovely spread of cherry, plum and spice flavours, good tannin backbone and a lasting finish.  The sort of youthful, complex red often described as "brooding", it should be at its best 2027+.

Escarpment Martinborough Pinot Noir 2022

5 stars

The highly refined, savoury 2022 vintage was hand-harvested at "diverse vineyard sites", mostly (75 per cent) in the Te Muna Road district, matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (27 per cent new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered.  Ruby hued, it is invitingly fragrant, mouthfilling and supple, with generous, ripe cherry, plum and spice flavours, hints of herbs and nuts, balanced acidity, and excellent complexity and harmony.  Already very approachable, it should be at its best 2027+.