Corofin Marlborough Pinot Noir 2022

Corofin’s regional wines made their debut last year, and a fine debut it was. Rather than casting the net wide to unknown and unproven sources, Mike Paterson composes these wines from his most prized vineyards―the sites responsible for his exceptional single-vineyard bottlings. This year’s release combines fruit from three sites in three valleys: Wrekin in Brancott Valley (45%), Settlement in Omaka Valley (45%) and Churton in Waihopai Valley (10%). Paterson loves the combination of the Wrekin and Settlement sites, finding harmony in the elegant, red-fruited suppleness of Settlement and the brooding, savoury weight of Wrekin. It’s a match made in Marlborough, with Churton bumping up the structure and spice. 

Settlement and Wrekin came off the vine on 17th and 19th March respectively, with Churton following a few days later on 29th. All the fruit was destemmed to a tank that was sealed for five days, after which the fruit was punched down. Fermentation lasted 10 more days. After 19 to 22 days, the wines were pressed to seasoned French barrels for 13 months’ maturation, followed by a further five months in tank before bottling without fining or filtration.