Porters Pinot ‘Kereru’ 2015 Pinot Gris and 2014 Pinot Noir, and 2014 Estate Pinot Noir

10-Oct-2017

Although John and Annabel and son Hugo of Porters Pinot are one of Martinborough’s smallest producers, they have a fine track record going back to their establishment in 1992. Their first vineyard was the ‘Old Block’, opposite Palliser Estate on Kitchener Street, now with 4 ha of vines, and this was added to by the purchase of the 2.4 ha old Lintz vineyard next to their house in 2009. This is the ‘House Block’, but may be called ‘Home Block’ from now on. These two sites have provided the Pinot Noir wines and a smaller amount of Pinot Gris that makes the Porters Pinot range.

The Porters have now introduced a new label named ‘Kereru’ named after the "majestic” native bird, the New Zealand wood pigeon, which, has begun to return to a block of native bush purchased by the Porters several years ago. It was formerly used as grazing land, but is now fenced off and a program of replanting of native species and forming a wetland has been introduced. Under the ‘Kereru’ brand, the Porters are making different wines to match the ‘Estate’ wines, and proceeds from the sale of the Kereru Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir will go to the upkeep ns maintenance of the block, intended to be preserved for future generations.

Here, I review the inaugural ‘Kereru’ wines, a 2015 Pinot Gris and a 2014 Pinot Noir, as well as the 2014 ‘Estate’ Pinot Noir. The latter wine is a richer vintage but still shows a style of beauty that is more feminine as the Porter’s wines usually are. www.porterspinot.co.nz

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

Porters ‘Kereru’ Martinborough Pinot Gris 2015
Pinot Gris from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington
Review Date : 10-Oct-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Bright, light straw-yellow colour, paler on the rim. The nose is firmly packed with deep aromas of ripe yellow stonefruits with a complex amalgam of savoury yellow florals and honeysuckle and a layering of nutty and minerally lees elements. Dryish to taste and medium-full bodied, the palate has good depth of mouthfilling flavours of savoury yellow stonefruits, showing nuances of honeysuckle and a complex amalgam of nutty lees and minerals. The fruit forms a fine, grainy textural heart, with balanced and integrated acidity. This has good palate weight and presence, and the wine carries to a lingering, full-flavoured finish. This is a dry, full and complex Alsace-style Pinot Gris with savoury stonefruit flavours and notes of honeysuckle and minerally lees, on a grainy-textured palate. Match with poultry, pork and veal, over the next 4 years. Mission clone fruit from the ‘Old Block’ vines, ungrafted, planted in 1994, cool-fermented in stainless-steel to 13.5% alc. and 7 g/L RS, the wine undergoing batonnage. 18.0/20 Oct 2017 RRP $25.00
Porters ‘Kereru’ Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington
Review Date : 10-Oct-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Full, even ruby-red colour with slight garnet hues and some depth, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is elegant and moderately deep with good volume, showing red berryfruit aromas entwined with cinnamon and herb elements and nutty, ceday oak. Medium-full bodied, the palate is elegant and well-proportioned with deep and sweet red berryfruit flavours melded with an intriguing cinnamon spice and herb layer, with subtle nutty and cedary oak suggestions. The palate has fine-grained tannin extraction providing good underlying structure and grip, with restrained, lacy acidity lending tension. The wine flows to a lingering finish with red fruits, spices and oak. This is a well-proportioned, elegant Pinot Noir with red fruits and distinctive spice and herb notes and subtle cedary oak on a fine-textured palate. Match with Middle Easter cuisine, or with duck or lamb dishes over the next 4-5 years. Clones 667, 777 and Abel from the ‘House Block’ vines planted in the early 2000s, fermented partially with indigenous yeasts and 10% whole bunches to 13.5% alc., the wine aged over 14 months in 20% new oak. 17.5-/20 Oct 2017 RRP $35.00
Porters Martinborough Pinot Noir 2014
Pinot Noir from New Zealand - Wairarapa & Wellington
Review Date : 10-Oct-2017
☆☆☆☆☆
Ruby-red colour with some depth and slight garnet hues, paler on edge. The nose is full and evenly expressed with bright dark-red cherry and berryfruit aromas and lifted red florals forming a finely concentrated core unfolding subtle nutty oak nuances. This has aromatic purity and beauty. Medium-full bodied, the palate ha an elegantly concentrated, rich and sweet heart of vibrant dark-red cherry and berryfruit, with integrated red floral notes, delicate herb and oak nuances. The mouthfeel is smooth and velvety in texture with the fruit richness supported by fine-grained tannin extraction and balanced acidity. The palate is beautifully balanced and carries to a sweet, sustained, red-fruited finish. This is an elegantly concentrated, rich and sweet-fruited Pinot Noir with fine, velvety textures, showing balance and beauty. Match with duck and pork dishes over the next 6 years. Fruit from the ‘House Block’ and ‘Old Block’, fermented partially with indigenous yeasts and 15% whole bunches to 13.5% alc., the wine aged over 14 months in 25% new oak. 18.5/20 Oct 2017 RRP $45.00

Porters Pinot ‘Kereru’ 2015 Pinot Gris and 2014 Pinot Noir, and 2014 Estate Pinot Noir

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

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