Martinborough's Flagship Pinot Noir — Power, Precision and Purity

The 2022 Escarpment Kupe Pinot Noir is Escarpment's most celebrated and prestigious single-vineyard expression — a Martinborough Pinot Noir of extraordinary power, precision and complexity that showcases everything that makes this corner of New Zealand's North Island one of the world's great Pinot Noir regions. Rich, lifted and fragrant, with layers of raspberry coulis, cedar, dark cherry and rosehip, Kupe is Martinborough Pinot Noir at its absolute finest.

Named after the great Polynesian navigator Kupe, who according to Māori tradition was the first to discover Aotearoa New Zealand, the Kupe is Escarpment's flagship — sourced from the estate's finest blocks on the Martinborough Terrace, crafted with the whole-bunch philosophy and minimal-intervention winemaking that founder Larry McKenna pioneered in Martinborough and that has made Escarpment one of New Zealand's most celebrated and respected Pinot Noir producers.

My Wine Man

This is for someone who wants one of New Zealand's most profound and age-worthy Pinot Noir expressions — a wine that rivals the finest examples from Burgundy in complexity, depth and sheer winemaking ambition.

Larry McKenna is widely regarded as the godfather of Martinborough Pinot Noir — the winemaker who put the region on the world map and who has spent decades refining his understanding of the Martinborough Terrace's unique free-draining soils and cool continental climate. Escarpment's Kupe is the culmination of that understanding: a single-vineyard Pinot Noir of extraordinary depth and complexity that is consistently ranked among New Zealand's finest wines.

At HK$399, this is exceptional value for a flagship single-vineyard Martinborough Pinot Noir of this depth, complexity and pedigree.

In my view, this is one of the finest and most compelling Pinot Noir expressions in the store — powerful, precise and built with genuine ambition.

What makes this wine stand out

This is all about Martinborough Terrace precision and the whole-bunch winemaking philosophy that Larry McKenna has refined over decades to produce Pinot Noir of extraordinary complexity and depth.

Raspberry coulis, cedar, dark cherry and rosehip offer an intriguing array of flavours and complexity on the nose. The palate is lifted and fragrant with bitter orange, dark fruits, sandalwood and a crunchy freshness that gives this wine its distinctive energy and drive. Layers of power with a balance of purity and softness, and a firm tannin profile that rounds out the opulent fruit aromas to create excellent depth and texture.

The defining feature is the combination of richness and precision — this is Pinot Noir of extraordinary mouthfeel and weight that never feels heavy, with a crunchy freshness and aromatic complexity that makes it completely compelling.

Powerful, precise and completely compelling.

Style / drinking window

Medium to full-bodied with raspberry coulis, dark cherry, rosehip, cedar, bitter orange, sandalwood and crunchy freshness.

Firm, structured tannins with opulent fruit and a long, layered finish of extraordinary depth and complexity.

Drinking beautifully now with decanting (1 hour). Peak drinking from 2025 onwards, with a cellaring window extending to 2032+. Serve at 16°C.

Why this is a smart buy

If you want one of New Zealand's most celebrated and age-worthy single-vineyard Pinot Noir expressions at an accessible price, this is exceptional value.

• Escarpment Kupe — Martinborough's most prestigious single-vineyard Pinot Noir, crafted by Larry McKenna, the godfather of Martinborough Pinot Noir
• Martinborough Terrace provenance — free-draining soils and cool continental climate producing Pinot Noir of extraordinary precision, complexity and longevity
• whole-bunch philosophy — minimal-intervention winemaking that delivers the aromatic complexity, crunchy freshness and structural depth that defines the Escarpment house style

Ideal for duck breast, roasted lamb, mushroom dishes, truffle, salmon or a landmark occasion. Decant for 1 hour.

Looking for a different style?

• 2020 Escarpment Te Rehua Single Vineyard Pinot Noir → same estate, different single-vineyard block. Peer expression with its own distinct character
• 2020 Devotus Reserve Pinot Noir → New Zealand Pinot Noir, cool-climate expression
• Bass Phillip Estate Old Vines Pinot Noir 2021 → Australian cool-climate Pinot Noir, Gippsland icon

Perfect Food Pairing

An elegant Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with free-range chicken — try with the Waitoa Free-Range Chicken Breast, available from our sister store My Meat Man.