Lake Chalice 'The Raptor' Pinot Noir features aromas of ripe fruit and floral scents blended with subtle depths. Tastes of black cherries and perfumed plums bring balance to the tannins and flavours. The palate extends and concludes with briny nuances and a touch of toasty oak. Enjoy now or give it five more years to mature. 

About the Producer

Lake Chalice was established in 1989 with a vision of producing internationally recognised wines from the heart of the Marlborough region. New Zealand’s native falcon, the ‘Kārearea’, is proudly displayed on every bottle of Lake Chalice wine. Kārearea favour the remote mountains and foothills of the upper Awatere and Wairau valleys and these valleys are home to Lake Chalice’s three unique vineyard sites. Each vineyard has a diverse microclimate, biodiversity and terroir which are seamlessly translated into multi award winning wines by talented winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen. Taking a boutique approach, she handcrafts parcels of fruit from single vineyards into elegant, aromatic, fruit driven wines and has garnered a global reputation of outstanding quality. Certified ‘Sustainable Winegrower of New Zealand’.

Vineyard and Winery

The fruit for this wine comes exclusively from Lake Chalice’s 11 hectare Eyrie Vineyard, which is located in the lower Waihopai Valley. The fruit is a hand-picked selection of clone 115 Pinot Noir. The 15 year old vines are pruned to two canes and the yields are carefully monitored, resulting in an intense fruit expression in the grapes. The high clay content in the soil profile is well suited to bringing out the best in the Pinot Noir variety.

The grapes were fermented in small open top vats, enabling maximum hand plunging. The wine was pressed and racked into barrels where it underwent full malolactic conversion. The wine was then matured for 11 months aging in 11 selected Tonnellerie Mercurey and François Frères French oak barriques, of which over one third were new. The final blending was carefully selected from the barrels delivering the greatest expression.

Producer's Tasting Notes

"The aroma is like a bike ride down a small laneway, lined with shops that burst with indulgent smells. In a single breath, you take it all in. The fruit seller with dark berries out front, the chocolatier, the aroma from the little cafe and at the lane end, the florist’s wildflowers and violets. Now, cycle around again. It’s time to taste. Rest your bike against the wall. From the fruit shop, pinch some ripe raspberries. Don’t worry, they didn’t see you. Stay a moment at the café, while the good looking barista serves you a slice of dark plum tart with a coffee. Delicious. As you stroll back to your bike, through an open door, you see someone carving a delicate wooden chair. You can taste the savoury French oak in the air. Not your everyday bike ride. It might be time to pedal home. So you can crack open the full-bodied Pinot Noir that awaits."