Escarpment Pinot Noir Martinborough Te Rehua 2014 (750ML)

91 Points, Stephen Tanzer, Vinous: “(from 23-year-old vines and multiple clones planted in a sheltered spot): Bright, dark red-ruby. Distinctly dark aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, anise, licorice, black pepper and black tea. Silky and enveloping; a very spicy, darker style of Pinot but with a wonderfully fine-grained, seamless texture. Plenty of fruit here, complicated by underlying salinity. Finishes with very suave, building tannins and sneaky length.� 05/16

92 Points, Wine Spectator: “Robust and intense, with plenty of fresh earth notes, muscular tannins and smoky tea, rosemary and roasted plum flavors. Complex and generous on the finish, ending harmoniously. Drink now through 2026. 350 cases made.� 10/16

92 Points, Allen Meadows, Burghound: "This and the Kupe are the only wines in the range to show much oak influence and in this case it isn't subtle though to be fair it's not so much as to dominate the plum, dark pinot fruit and exotic spice nuances. The good news regarding the wood is that there is so much mid-palate density, thanks to the copious amount of dry extract, it will enable it to eventually be absorbed. The wood treatment aside, otherwise there is a velvety and sleek mouth feel to the medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by firm and dusty tannins on the robust finale. This is presently somewhat youthfully awkward and will require a few years to harmonize though there is every reason to be optimistic about how this should evolve. Note however that at least 8 to 10 years will be required for this powerful effort to arrive at its apogee." 10/16