Earthsong, Single Vineyard Pinot Noir, Southern Valleys, New Zealand, 2025

Producer Profile

Earthsong is a New Zealand project from the team behind Thistledown Wines in South Australia, created to express the purity, texture and vibrancy of Marlborough.

With a deep connection to place, the focus is on single‑vineyard wines that reflect the character of their sites across the Riverlands, Dillons Point and the Southern Valleys. The original Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc from Dillons Point established the Earthsong style: tropical intensity, saline freshness and a vivid sense of place, all shaped by a sustainably accredited vineyard and a winemaking approach centred on precision and purity. Legato Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc offers a more textural, harmonious expression, showing layered fruit and a softer, more nuanced balance that highlights another facet of Marlborough’s terroir. The Southern Valleys Single Vineyard Pinot Noir extends the range into red wine, drawing on clay‑rich slopes that naturally deliver depth, structure and darker fruit. Its fine tannins and restrained power show Marlborough’s ability to produce Pinot Noir with both vibrancy and poise. Across the range, sustainability is central, aligned with Sustainable Winegrowing NZ™ standards. Winemaking remains minimal and focused, aiming to capture each vineyard’s character with clarity, balance and respect for the land.

Viticulture

The fruit is grown organically on carefully managed vineyard sites inland off the main Wairau plain, climbing gently into a series of side valleys shaped by clay-rich, north and west-facing slopes. With a focus on low yields to achieve concentration and clarity. A combination of sun-exposed and cooler vineyard aspects encourages balanced ripening, allowing for both fruit richness and aromatic lift. Clay-rich soils contribute structure and depth, while the vineyard conditions support the development of fine tannins and natural freshness. Both blocks are over 18 years old, planted at 1.5m × 2.4m rows, and cropped at just 2 kg per vine — a deliberately low yield for depth and definition.

Winemaking

Winemaking techniques are tailored parcel by parcel to express vineyard character. A proportion of whole-bunch fermentation is used to introduce aromatic complexity and subtle spice, while fermentation occurs in a mix of vessels to enhance texture. Gentle extraction and careful maturation in seasoned oak allow the wine to develop structure without overwhelming the fruit, resulting in a balanced and expressive style.

Tasting Note

This single vineyard Pinot Noir from the Southern Valleys presents an aromatic profile of black cherry, wild raspberry and dried herbs, lifted by notes of cedar and forest floor. On the palate, it is supple and medium-bodied, with a core of red and dark berry fruit supported by gentle spice and finely textured tannins. The finish is long and subtly structured, with a savoury grip that adds both depth and elegance.

Food matching

Pairs well with dishes such as duck, roasted poultry, and mushroom-based recipes. It also complements charcuterie and aged hard cheeses, where its savoury notes and fine tannins enhance the overall experience.