Upton Downs Vineyard Pinot Noir 2023

$75.00 NZD

PDF Tasting Sheet

Single Vineyard: Upton Downs Vineyard
Subregion: Upper Awatere | Awatere Valley
Region: Marlborough
Vintage: 2023
Soil Type: Loess, gravels over clay
Clone: 100% Clone 777
Viticulture: NZ Sustainably Certified
Growers: Tahi & Olivia Doonan

Appellation Marlborough Wine Certified (AMW) | Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand Certified (SWNZ)
Vegan | Vegetarian

The Upton Downs delivers a Pinot Noir of beguiling poise and perfume, born of high-altitude exposure, a cool dry microclimate and the layered, complex soils of the Upper Awatere. The bouquet opens with lifted violet and wild red berry aromas threaded with rose petal and subtle forest floor. On the palate it is elegant yet firmly structured, where silky tannins and bright acidity frame concentrated cherry, pomegranate and savoury spice, while careful whole-bunch inclusion add lift and tensile energy. The finish is long, mineral and compelling, promising early pleasure and confident age worthiness.

We hand-picked our small parcel of the remote Upton Downs Vineyard on Easter Sunday, which was a family affair. Once at the winery we tipped 40% as whole clusters into an open-top fermenter and crushed the balance over the top.

The fruit underwent a 6-day cold soak before naturally kicking off fermentation. Hand-plunging during the 15-day fermentation period was followed by draining the free-run wine and pressing the remaining wine all to French oak barriques (35% new) where it matured for 11 months, undergoing natural malolactic fermentation.

A further 4 months on light lees in small tank allowed the wine to come together, gently settling over time before being bottled without filtration in the winter following harvest.

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Reviews

Named in the Top NZ Wines of 2025: 96 Points - Outstanding.

"A wine of intensity and tension, texture and length. Aromas and flavours of red berries and charry flesh, dusty clay soils and gentle savoury spice layers. The palate show the same yet with an elegant and charming personality and poise. The tannins and acidity delivery and drive and power framing the fruit that perfectly showing a softer plush plate layer. Lengthy and delicious. Even better on days 3 and 4. A wine worth your time and attention with best drinking from 2029 through 2036+."

- Cameron Douglas MS

96 Points

"Elegant, gentle wine with surprising power and flavours suggesting raspberry sherbet dab, red rose petal that linger tantalisingly on a lengthy finish. Charming pinot noir that should put a smile on every pinot noir lover’s face."

- Bob Campbell MW

95 Points | Best Winemaker | NZ Wines of the Year List 2026

"This Upton Downs is sourced from over the hills in inland Awatere, where the dry, cool climate, complex soils and Dijon 777 clone give a wine style that’s pale and perfumed, with a vibrant freshness and lift. There’s an intriguing earthy, gamey, dusty character here, with dried herbs and pomegranate seed. It’s definitely on the lighter end of the spectrum – more Volnay than Gevrey, if you will – but with an upbeat vibrancy and drinkability that speaks very much of Awatere."

- Susie and Peter New Zealand Wines of the Year

95 Points

"Upton Downs vineyard is located in the elevated Upper Awatere Valley. All Dijon clone 777 planted in 2003. 40% whole cluster pressed to French oak barriques (35% new) for 11 months. A light shade of garnet to the hue. This has macerated morello cherry expression to the aromas, with some smoked paprika spice, rooibos tea and turned brown earth. This is centred in red berries, with the meaty side of oak clinging to the sides. Bright acidity and fine, sandy tannins. A peppery meat- and tomato-based dish would work nicely alongside it."

- Shanteh Wale

95 Points

"Bright ruby. A distinctive nose of tomato stalk, flint smoke and pomace suggesting whole bunch and/or site expression. With persistent coaxing, measured vanilla and cinnamon oak rises to the fore, followed by sweet roses, bramble and wild raspberry. The light-weight palate is equally restrained, tightly framed by sleek, coffee-ish tannins and driving acidity which facilitates incredible length, eventually revealing a crystalline heart of red, floral fruit. Despite its reticence and deceptively quiet expression, this is undeniably classy, elegant and intricate. It just needs time to unfold."

- Stephen Wong MW

94 Points

"This is very fragrant and spicy, showing clove, ripe-cherry, vanilla and roasted spice aromas, followed by a medium-bodied, flavorful palate, with ripe and fine tannins supporting the spicy fruit. Excellent length and concentration. From the Upper Awatere Valley. Drink or hold. Screw cap."

- Claire Nesbitt | jamessuckling.com

4.5 STARS

"Grown in the upper Awatere Valley, the distinctive, energetic 2023 vintage has an appealing lightness of touch. Bright ruby, it is harmonious and silky textured, with ripe cherry, red berry, spice and nut flavours, a hint of herbs, fresh acidity, and savoury notes adding complexity. A youthful, very elegant red, it's well worth cellaring to mid-2027+."

- Michael Cooper MA ONZM

9-9.5 Points

"Light to medium garnet in color, this wine smells of green, stemmy herbs and raspberry leaves. In the mouth, raspberry fruit and leafy notes mix with citrus peel, framed by gauzy tannins and bright acidity. Fresh, energetic, and thrumming with life."

- Alder Yarrow

91 Points

"The 2023 Pinot Noir Uptown Downs is an herbal funfair in a glass. This aromatic, richly fruited, medium-bodied red has a succulent texture and delectably mellow tannins. Fine cherry notes and a tea leaf fragrance linger long."