Astrolabe Pinot Noir

Bright deep garnet in colour. The bouquet shows savoury ripe plum and cherry, with a hint of game and smoky oak. Full to medium bodied wine with round, mouth filling flavours of plum and cherry, pleasing weight and a long elegant finish with good acidity. Oak integrates nicely with the fruit, and helps with the silky tannin structure.

When winemaker Simon Waghorn created his own brand, he chose the name Astrolabe because of historic ties with Marlborough and connotations of exploration and discovery. The Astrolabe was the mighty ship sailed by French explorer Dumont D'Urville through the Marlborough Sounds in the early 19th century. The ship itself took its name from a navigational instrument used to discover the position of the stars. Seeking the stars seemed appropriate: Astrolabe's "A" motif is an abstraction of the instrument. Astrolabe has evolved from Simon's vision. His extraordinary skill as winemaker together with a clear focus on quality wines and relationships has formed the foundation of Astrolabe. Simon is a hands-on winemaker, relishing his role and nurturing Astrolabe as his own brand and baby.