Region: Marlborough, New Zealand

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes: Textural and expressive, this Pinot Noir layers dark cherry and boysenberry with underbrush, crushed shells, and forest-floor nuance. Moments of star anise, graphite, and sweet tobacco leaf add complexity, while fine, dusty tannins and mineral tension anchor the palate. Already enticing, the wine promises to evolve with age—long on persistence and sense of place.

Producer: Clos Henri stems from the legacy of the celebrated Bourgeois family of Sancerre, who established this organic estate in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley in 2000. Named after the ancient Waimaungan glaciation, the “Windblown Clay” cuvée captures both geological uniqueness and Burgundy-inspired ambition in New Zealand. Over time, Clos Henri has earned praise for elevating Pinot Noir in Marlborough—traditionally known for Sauvignon Blanc—proving that clay-rich sites can also produce wines of structure, texture, and aging potential.

Vineyard & Winemaking: The 2022 Pinot is sourced from vines planted on wind‑blown clay soils beneath organically farmed vineyard blocks. Heat-retaining clays, offset by cool ocean breezes and cool nights, yield wines with intensity and freshness. Grapes are hand‑harvested, cold-soaked, and partly whole-cluster fermented using native yeasts, followed by aging in French oak—with only a small fraction new—to maintain purity and finesse. The goal is a wine defined by site expression—not oak or manipulation—from fruit to bottle.