Clos Henri : "Waimaunga" Pinot Noir 2023

Characteristics and tasting advice for Clos Henri’s 2023 Waimaunga Pinot Noir

Tasting

Nose
The nose charms with notes of ripe plum and warm spices.

Palate
Fruit-driven (cherry, blackberry), the palate combines silky tannins with a broad structure and a mineral, persistent finish.

Serving and cellaring

Enjoy at 57–59°F. This wine can be cellared until around 2031.

Food and wine pairing

This cuvée pairs beautifully with red meats.

A balanced and delicate New Zealand Pinot Noir

The estate

Nestled on the foothills of the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, Clos Henri is a major New Zealand estate run by a Sancerre icon: the Bourgeois family, winegrowers for 10 generations. Eager to reveal the finest Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc terroirs, Rémi and Jean‑Marie Bourgeois set out to explore the world in search of a hidden gem. After an extensive search, the family chose New Zealand, founding Clos Henri in 2000. Today the estate covers 110 hectares of vines, with 42 hectares certified organic.

The vineyard

Blessed with glacial soils, the estate boasts some of the most diverse terroirs in the Marlborough valley. Shaped by three distinct geological periods, the soils comprise layers of wind-blown clays and rolled river stones.

The wine

Clos Henri Waimaunga Pinot Noir comes from the “Waimaunga” plot, set on a remarkable clay terroir.

Winemaking and aging

After hand-harvesting, the berries are carefully sorted and 20% of the crop is vinified as whole clusters. The grapes are then transferred by gravity into French oak vats and cold-soaked for one week before starting a spontaneous fermentation. Finally, the wine is aged in French oak (20% new) for 12 months.

Grape variety

Pinot Noir.