River Farm 2022 Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand

River Farm’s 2022 Pinot Noir opens with a graceful stride—red cherry and raspberry lead, threaded through with white pepper and a faint suggestion of spice. It doesn’t announce itself; it simply draws you in with subtle clarity. 

That initial intrigue flows into a clean, refreshing palate. The wine moves with ease: fruit stays lifted, while lively acidity and silken tannins guide through a sharply focused finish. It’s lightweight in feel, but leaves a lasting impression in its precision. 

You sense the Awatere Valley in every detail—cool nights, steady winds, and distinctive alluvial soils. River Farm’s estate land, nourished by the Awatere River’s crystalline waters, shapes a Pinot that balances riper notes with sharply defined structure. 

One more layer appears when tasting for texture and nuance. There’s the faintest memory of clove or dried herbs, and a whisper of roasted chestnut that rises quietly—not to impress, but to deepen. 

This is a Pinot that doesn’t compete—it invites a second thought and a second pour. Elegant without hitch, incisive without edge. Perfect table wine, graceful on its own.