…generously articulate

Nga Waka Wines was established by Roger Parkinson and his family back in 1988. Roger’s wines respect and celebrate 'terroir'; the understanding that a wine expresses and reflects its ‘sense of place’. The winery name Nga Waka was chosen to reflect this sense of place. Taken from Nga Waka A Kupe (The Canoes of Kupe), the three hills, which lie like upturned canoes, forming a backdrop to the town of Martinborough. Roger crafts rich, complex wines, with excellent structure, texture and balance. Nga Waka’s vineyards are all accredited to Sustainable Winegrowing NZ, reflecting the importance attached to sustainable practices and preserving the land for future generations.
The story of this single vineyard wine goes back to 1999 when they planted 0.8 hectares of Pinot Noir and since then have leased this unique site. The soil profile is a classic Martinborough mix of shallow alluvial silts over old river gravels, with the fruit coming off carefully managed low cropping vines. This 2022 Pinot Noir showcases the best of Martinborough, with this ‘Lease Block’ a texturally outstanding wine. A small portion of the fruit was whole bunch fermented, with around 3 weeks maceration on skins, with regular daily plunging of the cap. Once Roger was happy the wine was transferred into tight-grain French oak barriques, with 30% being new oak for 18 months. The finished wine is non-fined and unfiltered.

★ In your glass a deep purple-red colour with a shining hue. On the nose you are invited by aromas of dark cherries, plums, wild mushroom, truffles, dried herbs and vanilla oak. The medium weight palate showcases those luscious dark cherries, ripe plums, along with the earthy mushroom and truffles nuances, and infused herbs and deft us of oak. This engaging palate has a textural nature due to not being fined or filtered, that adds another layer of character and depth. The wine is perfectly supported by good tannins, natural fruit acidity and refined oak from diligent barrel maturation. This well-balanced wine has a varietal energy and inner cheeky grip that leads to a classic dry signature.

This 2022 Nga Waka ‘Lease Block’ Martinborough Pinot Noir has 14% Alc./vol. Crafted in a classic dry style. Decant for 45-60 mins and serve in a generously shaped medium wine glass at 15°-17°C. • *NZ$58

CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Review 7/6/25)
With good decanting, this vintage is approachable now; though it would appreciate another 18-24 months and should age gracefully for another 8-10 years.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with slow roasted duck, lamb cutlets, crusted rack of veal, pork-n-crackling, mushroom & truffle gnocchi, along with earthy vegetarian cuisine, and aged truffle-brie cheese on toasted brioche - enjoy.