Babich Marlborough Pinot Noir 2023

Babich have a heritage that is rare in New Zealand, with their history long predating the viticultural boom of the last thirty years. Croatian immigrant Josip Babich made his first wine in Auckland in 1916 and one hundred years later his descendants are still going strong - the third generation of the family David Babich now holds the reins. They boast an impressive 428 hectares under vine, spread across thirteen vineyards in Auckland, Hawke’s Bay and Marlborough, supplying the vast majority of the grapes that go into their wines. This long history does not prevent them from thinking of the future. In 1987 their Fernhill Vineyard in Hawke’s Bay was the first to be sustainably registered in New Zealand and this commitment to the environment continues to this day, enacted through their practices in both the vineyard and the winery.

This Marlborough Pinot Noir is a blend of various parcels of fruit from the predominately estate owned vineyards in the Waihopai and Wairau Valleys. Fruit was fermented in open vats with a combination of wild and inoculated yeasts. After an extended period on skins, the various ferments were drained and put to oak. After six and a half months, the wines were assessed and blended.