A celebration of place. McArthur Ridge releases 2020 Grand Reserve Pinot Noir – Multi award-winning Alexandra vineyard, McArthur Ridge, has released its 2020 Grand Reserve Pinot Noir.
The “McArthur” – an extremely limited-edition wine crafted for cellaring – is made to age and show its best over time. Boasting complex aromas of dark berry, game, savoury mushroom, cedar and dried herb, the palate displays a delicate elegance of black cherries and the tannins are subtle.
Chief viticulturist, Murray Petrie, describes the significant effort required to develop a reserve wine of such quality. “The McArthur Ridge team targets the best parts of the vineyard to carry less crop and to receive the greatest viticultural attention. At picking time, the fruit is hand selected from ultra-premium blocks that represent the finest expression of our Alexandra site,” he says.
But not every harvest is capable of producing a Grand Reserve wine. Chief winemaker, Matt Connell, says 2020 was chosen as a reserve production year due to its cooler vintage. “Lower temperatures in the area helped to cultivate higher acidity and the moderate summer supported really great flavour and sugar development,” Matt explains.
With a pedigree in producing spectacular wines, McArthur Ridge is no stranger to recognition for its wines and in 2022, won a slew of awards for its 2020 Southern Tor Pinot Noir, including two trophies, 96 points and a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in London. When comparing the Southern Tor with the 2020 Grand Reserve, Matt, who was judged top winemaker at the 2022 NZ International Wine Show, says while the terroir is similar for both wines, “we really give the Grand Reserve the royal treatment. We target the blocks and monitor them continuously, looking for those with more flavour concentration so that the reserve wine stands out as being really special and unique.
Southern Tor has a good degree of complexity, but the difference is in the fruit concentration; it’s more fruit forward and drinks better young. The McArthur is made for ageability, with more new oak to hold it together over time and give it greater structure. It has more barrel-influence which helps give it extra complexity.” Matt suggests cellaring the “McArthur” Grand Reserve for up to 10 years and being an “earthy” wine, pairing it with earthy foods such as mushrooms and gamey meats like venison and lamb. “But also, due to its thyme
character, it can go well with an oily fish, like salmon.”
The McArthur Ridge “McArthur” Grand Reserve Pinot Noir 2020 is produced in extremely limited volume. There are just 200 half cases available, most of which will be offered directly online via https://www.mcarthurridge.nz/
McArthur Ridge “McArthur” (Grand Reserve), Alexandra Pinot Noir 2020 RRP: $80.00 per bottle (Trade prices on request)
Read earlier articles about McArthur Ridge successes – https://nzwinedirectory.co.nz/?s=McArthur