Sherwood Estate, Sherwood Pinot Noir, Waipara, New Zealand, 2023

Producer Profile

Dayne and Jill Sherwood founded their wine estate in 1987, at a time when not many people in New Zealand fully understood the wine industry, including them!

Together they have built the company from a small 20 acre block in north Canterbury to one of New Zealand’s largest family owned and independent wineries. Their customer built winery in the Waipara Valley may have seemed huge at the time, but now is bursting at the seams with epic wines, exuding great balance under the meticulous winemaking of Chief Winemaker, Petter Evans.

Viticulture

The winery is fully accredited under the Sustainable Winegrowers New Zealand guidelines. Sherwood Estate’s overriding vineyard philosophy revolves around the word balance, which is imperative for Pinot Noir which is their passion. Sherwood Estate has always had an obsession with Pinot Noir and their five vineyard sites in the Waipara Valley each has its own unique soils, climates and idiosyncrasies which give great scope for producing distinctive regional style wines.

Winemaking

4 tonne open top ferments, 5 day pre-ferment maceration followed by an indigenous ferment, hand plunged 1 to 2 times per day, 21 – 28 days skin contact, lightly pressed to barre for aging prior to blending and bottling.

Tasting Note

Rich plum and earthy tones with a hint of toasty oak on the nose. The palate has a lovely sweet entry, which builds in the mouth, supported by ripe and silky fruit and oak tannins.

Food Matching

A perfect accompaniment with spring lamb.