Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023 comes from the Herzog family's organic vineyard beside the Wairau River in Marlborough. This is a finely structured, age-worthy Pinot Noir of depth, elegance and persistence with ripe dark berries and violet aromas, with a supple, silky texture. It's a great match with pan-seared duck. Stock is always very limited.
In the glass it shows cherry and warm spice beneath the dark fruit, with a fine, savoury acidity running underneath.
It's a structured, food-friendly Pinot Noir made in a savoury, Burgundian-inspired style, and a fantastic wine for a special weekend dinner.
Only 156 cases were produced of the 2023 vintage.
What it tastes like
This wine has supple, fine-grained tannins that give it a silky texture, backed by a savoury acidity that keeps it fresh rather than heavy. The finish is long and persistent, echoing the spice and dark fruit through to the end. It's delicious.
Style at a glance
- Body: Full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Savoury, fresh
- Tannin: Silky, fine-grained
- Oak: 24 months in French Allier barriques, adding warm spice and structure
- Style: Structured, savoury Pinot Noir
Food to enjoy this with
- Pan-seared Canterbury duck
- Roast lamb with rosemary
- Venison
- Mushroom risotto
- Aged hard cheeses
- Burgers or a Friday-night pizza: Hans Herzog Estate itself points out this Pinot Noir is just as at home with casual food as it is with a formal dinner
Who makes it
Hans Herzog holds a degree in viticulture and a masters degree in winemaking, and has more than 40 years' experience as a grower and winemaker. He and his wife Therese moved from Switzerland to Marlborough and established Hans Herzog Estate in 1994 on 11.5 hectares beside the Wairau River, where Therese built the estate's tasting room, restaurant and bistro.
The vineyard is certified organic and biodynamic, and now carries 26 different grape varieties. The block used for this Pinot Noir was planted in 1996 on shallow, well-drained sandy and gravelly soil with patches of clay, and is kept to a low yield of around 2 tons per hectare.
Hans Herzog Estate ferments with wild yeast and handpicks across the vineyard, working as a true vigneron with oversight from vine to bottle, avoiding chemical additives or concentration.
For the 2023 vintage, the grapes were destemmed with 80% of the berries left whole, then given a cold soak using dry ice. Fermentation ran naturally with wild yeasts for 21 days on skins, and the wine went through malolactic fermentation in French Allier barriques, where it was aged for 24 months. It is unfined and unfiltered.
About the vintage
The 2023 growing season in Marlborough was a third consecutive La Niña year, bringing a wet, cool spring and summer. Cyclone Gabrielle largely spared the region, and a harvest that ran later than recent years gave the grapes a long, settled ripening period.
For Pinot Noir, the result was a well-balanced vintage, with good flavour and ripeness alongside fresh acidity, according to Marlborough Winegrowers' 2023 vintage report.
When to drink it
Hans Herzog recommends cellaring this for 10 years or more, so it's the sort of wine you buy a case of and enjoy over time.
Technical details
| Winery: |
Hans Herzog Estate |
| Wine: |
Pinot Noir |
| Vintage: |
2023 |
| Variety: |
100% Pinot Noir |
| Region: |
Marlborough |
| Country: |
New Zealand |
| Alcohol: |
14.5% |
| Oak: |
24 months in French Allier barriques |
| Fermentation: |
Wild yeast, 21 days on skins, with malolactic fermentation in barrel |
| Cellaring: |
10+ years |
| Organic: |
Certified organic (BioGro) |
| Vegan: |
Yes |
Where to buy
For international delivery to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, the Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023 is available from our winenz.com website. For delivery within New Zealand, buy it from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. On both websites and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines, and if you are visiting from overseas, we can ship it home for you.
Questions we are often asked
Is Hans Herzog Pinot Noir organic?
Yes. Hans Herzog Estate is a certified organic (BioGro) and biodynamic vineyard in Marlborough, and the 2023 Pinot Noir is grown and made there.
What does Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023 taste like?
It's a full-bodied red with dark berry, cherry and violet character, silky tannins and a savoury, spice-tinged finish.
How long can I cellar Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023?
Hans Herzog recommends cellaring the 2023 Pinot Noir for 10 years or more.
Is Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023 vegan?
Yes. It's unfined and unfiltered, making it suitable for vegans.
Where is Hans Herzog Estate located?
Hans Herzog Estate is a family-run, organic winery beside the Wairau River in Marlborough, New Zealand.
Where can I buy Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023?
The Winery ships Hans Herzog Pinot Noir 2023 internationally from winenz.com to the USA, Australia, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, China and South Korea, and delivers within New Zealand from thewineryonline.co.nz. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
