Corofin Settlement Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

With each passing vintage, Mike and Anna Paterson further cement their fledgling domaine among New Zealand’s most exciting up-and-comers. In a region where (traditionally) money talks and terroir walks, Mike and Anna Paterson’s Corofin project is carving out a terrific reputation by fashioning exceptional wines of place from the finest hillside vineyards of Marlborough’s Southern Valleys.

The 18-year-old Settlement Vineyard is in the Omaka Valley, located to the south of Marlborough’s Wairau Plains. It is managed by Dog Point’s gun viticulturist, Nigel Sowman. The fruit for this bottling hails from a 0.25-hectare sliver at the top of the vineyard’s east slope, a clay-rich parcel planted at a density of 4,600 vines per hectare (all 777 clone). Mike Paterson now foot-crushes roughly 10% of the harvest to lessen the carbonic influence, which he felt was too present in previous releases. Otherwise, whole berries were placed in a sealed tank at ambient temperature and fermentation lasted up to two weeks before the wine was transferred to seasoned French oak. It was bottled unfined and unfiltered after 13 months in barrel and a further seven months in tank. 

In part thanks to Paterson’s light hand in the winery, the 2020 is positively ethereal for a Marlborough Pinot Noir. It’s a wonderfully pure Settlement, weighing in 13%, with lithe texture and flowing, crystalline red fruit measured by a wisp of finely drawn tannin and crisp acidity. The bright, perfumed finish just keeps you coming back for more.

Pale in colour with very fine aromatics of sweet red cherries and wild strawberries, showing real finesse and very fine herbal hints which add some sappy detail. The palate is sweet and supple with real finesse, and a silky edge to the strawberry fruit, with a hint of orange peel and mandarin. Such finesse and elegance. This is a lovely infusion style but elegance doesn’t come at the cost of flavour intensity. One of the best Marlborough Pinots I’ve ever had. - Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, 96 Points

The Finer Details
Style - Red Wine
Varietal - Pinot Noir
Country - New Zealand
Region - Marlborough
Vintage - 2020
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 13%
Other - Organic