Giesen News

What makes Clayvin Pinot Noir award-winning?

Low-yield, high-density planting results in rich, dark fruit flavours, balanced by fine, ripe tannins.

The challenging growing season, with a cool, dry summer, produced smaller berries that intensified the flavours and aromas.

The vineyard’s fragile clay soils promote deep root growth, allowing vines to access water and nutrients even in dry conditions, creating resilient, self-sufficient vines.

The north-facing slopes, combined with Marlborough’s cool nights, preserved acidity while enhancing the classic Pinot Noir profile.

Our acclaimed Clayvin vineyard was hand-harvested in blocks to ensure they were picked at the desired physiological ripeness.

Due to high-density planting the blocks are naturally low yielding,” Chief Winemaker Jeremy Tod explains. “Concentrated flavours are a hallmark; this vintage is no different. The wines are dark and pronounced, with rich fruit flavours and ample fine ripe tannins shining through.

MARLBOROUGH

The 2020 winter was unusually dry with less rainfall than the long-term average. Much of Marlborough was affected by several frost events at the start of the growing season, as well as cold, wet weather during flowering. This had a significant effect on the region’s fruit set with millerandage (commonly known as hen & chicken) producing a high number of small berries in the bunches. This reduced yield and increased concentration of aromas and flavours in the grapes. The summer ripening period was slightly cooler than normal, with rainfall only 38.9% of the long-term average.

VINEYARD HISTORY  

Planted in 1993, the north-facing Clayvin site is organically farmed. The vineyard is high-density planted to reduce vigour of the vines, promote root structure, and deliver highly concentrated flavourful fruit. The Giesen brothers purchased the site in 2015 following a long-term lease to ensure they could continue producing these exceptional wines. 

SOIL STRUCTURE  

Fragile soils with a complex clay profile that varies across the vineyard and good water retention, while fractured enough to allow the vine’s roots system to migrate deep into the cooler subsoils allowing the vines to become more self-sufficient.

Vintage 2021 was blessed with dry conditions, resulting in low disease pressure, and excellent quality. The growing season commenced with temperate weather, with the cooler flowering conditions suiting Clayvin’s Pinot Noir vines. Our premium viticulture team targets very low yields of approximately 5 tonnes per hectare. 

Crop thinning is undertaken around Veraison to ensure the vines are able to deliver concentrated flavours full of varietal expression and optimal anthocyanin development. While water shortage during this very warm growing season was a concern around some parts of Marlborough, Clayvin vines are well established and are able to take advantage of the water and nutrients held in the clay pans which are a feature of this iconic vineyard. The north facing aspect of the vineyard is another factor influencing the ripeness of the fruit. Marlborough’s legendary cool night time temperatures help acid retention and highlight classic Pinot Noir notes. 

WINEMAKING HARVEST

Hand-picked from Clayvin’s C and G blocks; all fruit was hand-sorted in the vineyard before being transported to the winery. A portion of fruit was fermented using the semi-carbonic technique, to accentuate the red fruit and floral notes adding complexity to the final blend. 

FERMENTATION

Minimal cold soak, 10-day ferment. The post-ferment maceration was up to 15 days to allow further polymerisation of tannins.  

PRESSING MATURATION

Basket pressed, matured in 100% French Oak 300L Hogsheads with 30% new oak. 

The 2021 vintage produced only 3,700 bottles.

WINE ANALYSIS

Alcohol: 13.8% TA: 5.67g/L pH: 3.41 RS: 0.22g/L

We are incredibly proud of this achievement, and we raise a glass to the hard work, craftsmanship, and care that have contributed to this exceptional vintage! 🍷🥂