New Zealand wines have gained their fame primarily through their white wines, particularly Sauvignon Blanc. This refreshing, aromatic hero has captured the hearts of wine lovers. However, New Zealand has so much more to offer, including Pinot Noir, which, thanks to the South Island's unique microclimate, produces surprisingly deep wines.
Saint Clair is named after James Sinclair. He was one of the first to arrive in Blenheim, Marlborough, and created the wine capital of New Zealand from scratch. This also makes Saint Clair one of New Zealand's oldest wineries, founded in 1978. In nearly 45 years, Saint Clair has now cultivated 270 hectares in some of New Zealand's most beautiful regions, including the Southern Valley, part of Marlborough, where the grapes for this Saint Clair Vicars Choice Pinot Noir are grown.
For this red wine from Saint Clair, nothing is left to chance. The heady Pinot Noir grapes are fermented after nearly a week of cold maceration. This gives this red wine a rich aroma. After fermentation, only a small portion of the juice is aged in oak, giving the wine that little bit extra. This ensures that Saint Clair Vicar's Choice Pinot Noir remains a typical Pinot Noir, but with a slight bite. This distinguishes this red wine from all other New Zealand red wines.
