Greywacke Pinot Noir 2022

Region and Vineyards

Greywacke Pinot Noir 2022 comes from Marlborough's Southern Valleys, a sub-region prized for Pinot Noir because its clay-influenced soils bring more structure and depth than the region's lighter, stonier Sauvignon Blanc sites. The fruit was grown principally in Yarrum Vineyard, set on the ridge between the Brancott and Ben Morven Valleys, with additional parcels from hillside vineyards in the Omaka Valley.

These sites are planted on wind-blown loess over clay-loam soils with varying gravel content, a combination that encourages aromatic intensity, supple tannins and savoury complexity. The vineyards include Dijon clones 115, 777 and 667, alongside smaller parcels of UCD5, 828, 943 and AM10/5. High-density hillside plantings, trained to two-cane VSP at 3,800 vines per hectare, help deliver concentration, balance and precise varietal expression.

Winemaking

The wine is made from 100% Pinot Noir, with grapes hand-harvested and chilled overnight before hand-sorting. Most of the fruit was destemmed into open-top fermenters, although the majority of ferments included a proportion of whole bunches, adding aromatic lift, spicy detail and structural poise.

After a pre-fermentation soak, the must fermented with indigenous yeasts and was plunged daily for gentle extraction. Following fermentation, the wine was pressed, racked and matured in French oak barriques, 30% of them new. Individual clones were aged separately for 11 months, then blended in February 2023 and bottled in June. The finished wine has 13% alcohol, pH 3.72 and acidity of 5.6 g/l, underscoring its medium-bodied, bright and finely balanced profile.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Bright ruby with a translucent Pinot Noir glow, suggesting freshness, elegance and a medium-bodied structure.
• Aroma: Fragrant and expressive, with boysenberry, blackberry, plum and dark cherry layered with rose petal, kola nut, woodsmoke, allspice and subtle earthy tones.
• Palate: Medium-bodied, bright and silky, showing black liquorice, plum pudding, blackberry and savoury spice. Fine tannins carry the fruit gracefully into a lingering, earthy and gently smoky finish.

Did you know?

Greywacke takes its name from New Zealand's abundant grey sandstone bedrock. The estate was founded in 2009 by Kevin Judd, the original winemaker at Cloudy Bay, who directed its first 25 vintages before creating his own family label in Marlborough.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Glazed duck breast: The wine's dark berry fruit, bright acidity and silky tannins pair beautifully with the richness and sweetness of duck.
• Mushroom risotto: Earthy mushroom flavours echo the wine's savoury tones, while its freshness keeps the dish lifted.
• Herb-crusted lamb loin: Pinot Noir's spice, plum and gentle tannin complement tender lamb without overpowering it.
• Roasted beetroot with goat's cheese: The wine's floral lift and red-fruited freshness balance the beetroot's sweetness and the cheese's tang.

History of Greywacke Estate

The story of Greywacke begins with Kevin Judd, one of the leading figures in New Zealand's wine industry. Born in England and raised in Australia, Judd moved to New Zealand in 1983 to pursue winemaking. His work as the founding winemaker at Cloudy Bay, one of Marlborough’s most famous wineries, catapulted the region to international fame, particularly for its Sauvignon Blanc. Over his 25-year career at Cloudy Bay, Judd helped shape the style of Marlborough’s wines, known for their vibrant acidity and intense fruit flavors.

In 2009, after leaving Cloudy Bay, Judd founded Greywacke as his own independent project, allowing him to focus on crafting wines with a more artisanal, hands-on approach. Initially producing the wines at Dog Point Winery, another notable Marlborough estate, Greywacke became a standalone brand that quickly gained a reputation for quality. Judd named the winery after the greywacke stones that are scattered throughout Marlborough’s vineyards, symbolizing the estate’s deep roots in the local soil.

Greywacke remains a family-run business, with Judd overseeing both the vineyard management and winemaking. His wife, Kimberley, also plays an integral role in the estate’s operations. With a small but dedicated team, Greywacke has established itself as one of Marlborough’s top boutique wineries, producing wines that are both complex and expressive of the region’s terroir.

Region and Vineyards

Greywacke sources its grapes from some of the finest vineyards across Marlborough, focusing on the Southern Valleys and Wairau Plains. The region is New Zealand’s premier wine-growing area, benefiting from a cool maritime climate and long growing season. This combination of climate and geography enables Greywacke to produce wines with intense flavors, vibrant acidity, and a remarkable sense of place.

The Southern Valleys, where Greywacke’s Pinot Noir is primarily sourced, is known for its clay-rich soils, which contribute texture and complexity to the wines. The vineyards here benefit from warmer temperatures, allowing the grapes to achieve full ripeness while maintaining freshness. The Wairau Plains, on the other hand, are characterized by stony, alluvial soils that drain freely and are ideal for growing Sauvignon Blanc. These soils, combined with the region’s abundant sunshine, produce wines with bright fruit flavors and crisp acidity.

Greywacke’s vineyards are managed with sustainability at the forefront, and many of the sites are organically farmed. The winery adheres to Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) guidelines, ensuring that its wines meet the highest standards of provenance, quality, and environmental stewardship. Greywacke focuses on low yields to ensure the concentration and quality of the fruit, with hand-harvesting and meticulous vineyard care throughout the growing season.

Wine Range

Greywacke is best known for its iconic Sauvignon Blanc, which combines vibrant tropical fruit flavors with subtle complexity from wild fermentation. The range also includes:

• Wild Sauvignon: A more complex, oak-aged expression of Sauvignon Blanc, fermented with wild yeasts to add depth and texture.
• Pinot Noir: Elegant and structured, Greywacke’s Pinot Noir showcases red fruit, spice, and earthy undertones, reflecting the diverse terroirs of Marlborough.
• Chardonnay: A rich and textured wine with notes of stone fruit, citrus, and integrated oak, made in a style that balances freshness with complexity.
• Riesling and Gewürztraminer: Small-batch aromatic wines that emphasize purity of fruit and vibrant acidity.

Did You Know?

In addition to his winemaking achievements, Kevin Judd is a talented photographer. His passion for photography is often showcased on the Greywacke wine labels, which feature his evocative images of New Zealand’s landscapes. His photography has been exhibited internationally and is the subject of several books, including The Colour of Wine.