Escarpment

The Terroir: The Martinborough Terrace

The name "Escarpment" refers to the cliff that borders the Huangarua River.

• The Ground: The vineyard rests on a terrace of deep alluvial gravel, providing exceptional natural drainage. This forces the vines to send their roots deep, resulting in a pronounced minerality.

• THE Climat : Martinborough is a dry and windy area. The Pacific winds naturally limit yields and thicken the grape skins, resulting in wines that are more concentrated and tannic than those from Marlborough.

The Wine Range: A Hierarchy of Terroirs

Escarpment is distinguished by its desire to fragment its plots to express their own identities, in the manner of the Burgundian "Climats".

The Escarpment Style

Unlike many New World wines, Escarment wines often possess:

1. An earthy texture: Notes of undergrowth, truffle and smoked tea.

2. One use of the whole grape bunch: Using the stems during fermentation provides tannic structure and a menthol freshness.

3. An exceptional Chardonnay: Although famous for its Pinot Noir, the domaine produces a taut, mineral and very slightly buttery Chardonnay, focused on purity.

In 2019, the domaine was acquired by the Australian company Torbreck, but the technical team and the "non-intervention" philosophy remain true to Larry McKenna's legacy, ensuring the continuity of this iconic style.