Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand is an integral part of the future of New Zealand wine production, and Babich Wines developed the first vineyard in New Zealand to achieve registration. With our ongoing commitment to protect the environment, through implementing sustainable practices in all our vineyards, it was a logical progression to move to the next step and investigate the benefits of an organic approach to viticulture. Our Headwaters Vineyard is farmed in compliance with organic standards and has become the source of some of the finest organic, sustainable Pinot Noir NZ has produced to date.
Pinot Noir
Marlborough
Headwaters
This organic Pinot Noir would go well with wild game or salmon.
2-6 years
The fruit was harvested from our organic certified Headwaters Vineyard near Renwick in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. The grapes were crushed into open top vats, held cold for a number of days then fermented with predominately "wild" yeast. A period on skins followed. The wine was then moved to oak barriques to undergo malolactic fermentation and to mature.
Alcohol: 13.0%
TA: 5.4 g/L
pH: 3.62
Residual Sugar: Dry
Dried raspberry and strawberry aromas with sweet spices - nutmeg/cinnamon and a little caramel. Layers of red and dark fruits, plum, cherry, forest berries mingle with thyme and well integrated oak. Silken texture and medium weight.
13.3%
Olive Block: 114 - 10%; 667 - 4%; 777 - 76%. Gallery Block (young clonal mix): 10%
90% wild
Open top vats, 5 days cold soak, 20 days skin contact in total
Yes
23.2-24.0 °Brix; pH 3.31-3.63; TA 6.3 -7.3 g/L
28th of March & 1st of April (Olive 114)
Machine
Yes
9 months in barrel with lees with stirring
3.62
Machine harvested - destemmed in vineyard.
Dry
5.4g/L
Headwaters
2018
“Ruby hued, this single-vineyard red is mouth-filling and sweet-fruited, with youthful, moderately concentrated cherry, plum and spice flavours, fresh acidity, and slightly savoury notes adding complexity.”
-Winestate Magazine March 2021 issue
Pinot Noir
Marlborough
Headwaters Vineyard
This organic Pinot Noir would go well with wild game or salmon.
2-8 years
The fruit was harvested from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard near Renwick in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. The grapes were crushed into open top vats, held cold for a number of days then fermented. A period on skins followed. The wine was then moved to oak barriques to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature.
Alcohol: 13.0%
TA: 6.0 g/L
pH: 3.52
Residual Sugar: 0g/l
Aromas of gunflint and smoke, spice and cherry with a hint of oyster shell and mushroom complexity. Medium weighted and fine texture with layers of flavour on the palate including nutmeg, cherry, and vanilla. Raspberry and a trace of chocolate join in on the finish. A wine with grace and interest.
12.6
114 - 54%; 667 - 26%; 777 - 20%. (Olive Block - North & South).
100% wild yeast
Open top vats, 7 days cold soak, 3 weeks skin contact in total
Minimal - 5µm
Gelatine
22.2-22.9 °Brix; pH 3.40; TA 6.8-7.8 g/L
31st March 2017
Machine
Yes, in barrique.
9 months on lees with stirring
3.52
Machine harvested - destemmed in vineyard.
Dry
6.0g/L
Headwaters Vineyard
2017
SILVER OUTSTANDING – New Zealand International Wine Show 2018
90 POINTS – James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com, Oct 2018
SILVER MEDAL – Global Pinot Noir Masters 2019
SILVER MEDAL – Global Organic Masters 2019
SILVER MEDAL – New Zealand Organic Wine Awards 2020
“Attractive ripe raspberry and strawberry aromas with a bright, fine and easy palate that delivers a crunchy, fresh and vibrant finish. From organically grown grapes.”
90 POINTS -James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com, Oct 2018
Pinot Noir
Marlborough
Headwaters Vineyard
This stunning organic Pinot Noir would go well with wild game or salmon.
5 years
The fruit was harvested from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard near Renwick in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. The grapes were crushed into open top vats, held cold for a number of days then fermented. A period on skins followed. The wine was then moved to oak barriques to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature.
Alcohol: 13.0%
TA: 5.8 g/L
pH: 3.76
Residual Sugar: 0g/l
Aromas of wild herb and berry fruit with sweet, cherry flavours – lingering finish.
13.0%
45% 114 28% 667; 27% 777 (South Block)
Wild ferment, extended skin contact
Open Vats
Minimal - 5 micron
None
23.3- 23.6 Brix; pH 3.42- 3.65; TA 6.6 g/L
23rd of March & 1st of April
Machine
Yes, in barrique.
11 months in barrel - 30% new oak
3.76
Cold soak
Nil
5.8 g/L
Headwaters Vineyard
2016
GOLD MEDAL – Global Pinot Noir Masters 2018
Pinot Noir
Marlborough
Headwaters Vineyard
This award winning organic Pinot Noir would go well with wild game or salmon.
5 years
The fruit was harvested in excellent condition from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard near Renwick in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. The grapes were crushed into open top vats and after a period of cold soaking fermented with frequent plunging of the cap. After a period on skins after primary ferment the wine was moved to oak barriques to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature for 9 months. After that the wine was blended, lightly fined and bottled.
Alcohol: 13.5%
TA: 6.7g/L
pH: 3.3
Residual Sugar: 0g/l
Soft and building perfume - strawberry, cherry and smoky notes. Medium weight, great volume and creamy texture. Layered red fruits and juicy acids. Mouth-watering and lingering.
13.50%
114, 667, 777
Wild & organic yeast. Post ferment maceration.
Open vats
0.45 micron
Minimal
23.6 Brix; pH 3.43; TA 7.6/ 25.0 Brix, pH 3.52,TA 6.8
20th March
Machine
Yes
9 months in oak. 33% new
3.3
Pre-fermentation cold soak
Dry
6.7 g/l
Headwaters Vineyard
2015
GOLD MEDAL – Marlborough Wine Show 2016
GOLD MEDAL – Global Organic Masters 2017
GOLD MEDAL – 95 POINTS – International Organic Wine Awards 2017
94 POINTS -Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, The Shout Hospitality Business Feb 2017
91 POINTS – www.jamessuckling.com
“Immediately engaging with a complex and familiar bouquet; aromas of wild herb, wild flowers then red berry fruits, plenty of earthy mineral tones and barrel tones to match. On the palate – dry, spicy, fruity and totally engaging textures – abundant fine & tense tannins add poise and grip, ripe red berry fruit flavours and a juicy sweet spot mid palate pushed along by acidity and alcohol. A lovely and engaging wine with great fruit and minerality, no mistaking the oak. ”
94 POINTS
-Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, The Shout Hospitality Business Feb 2017
“Moderately deep, light ruby-red colour, pale on the rim. The nose is fresh with soft aromas of red berry and cherry fruit intermixed with complexing dark herb notes at the core, along with nuances of nutty and toasty oak and hints of minerals. Medium-bodied, the palate has fresh and vibrant, elegantly proportioned flavours of dark-red cherry and berry fruit, melded with dark herbs. The fruit is underlined by fine-grained tannin extraction and structure, with fresh acidity providing good energy and drive. As the wine flows, sour cherry and nutty notes emerge and carry to a slender, lingering finish. This is an elegantly proportioned Pinot Noir with red cherry and berry flavours with subtle herbal and nutty notes on a fine, grainy-textured palate.”
4 STARS
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, April 2017
“Some dark and brambly aromas here. Earthy and savory, too. Plenty of interest on the nose. The palate has a mellow feel with smooth, easy tannins and blueberry fruit flavors moving to plum cake at the finish.”
91 POINTS
– www.jamessuckling.com
Marlborough
Wairau Valley
This award winning organic Pinot Noir would go well with wild game or salmon.
5 years
The fruit was harvested in excellent condition from our certified organic Headwaters Vineyard near Renwick in Marlborough’s Wairau Valley. The grapes were crushed into open top vats and after a period of cold soaking, fermented with frequent plunging of the cap. After a period on skins after primary ferment, the wine was moved to 225L oak barriques to undergo malolactic fermentation and mature for seven months. After that the wine was blended, lightly fined and bottled in late February.
Alcohol: 13.5%
TA: 5.6g/l
pH: 3.6
Residual Sugar: 0g/l
Intense spice, red and black fruits. Cedar hints. Bright cherry, wild herbs and darker tarry notes. Supple with good volume and very persistent finish.
Wairau Valley
2014
GOLD MEDAL – China Wine & Spirits Awards 2015
4 STARS – Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
4 STARS – Winestate Magazine, July/August 2015 issue
4 STARS – Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, TheShout NZ/HospitalityBusiness Magazine, June issue 2015
4.5 STARS, 90 POINTS -Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, May 2015
PURE SILVER – Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2015
4 STARS, 18/20 POINTS -Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Jan 2016
SILVER MEDAL – Bragato Wine Awards 2016
SILVER MEDAL – NZ International Wine Show 2016
4.5 STARS – Cuisine Magazine, April 2016
GOLD MEDAL – NZ Organic Wine Awards 2016
SILVER MEDAL – International Wine & Spirits Competition 2016
SILVER MEDAL – San Francisco International Wine Competition 2017
SILVER MEDAL – WSWA 74th Annual Convention and Exposition Wine & Spirits Tasting Competition 2017
“The deep ruby 2014 vintage is a single-vineyard Marlborough red, bottled unfiltered. Generous, savoury and supple, it has concentrated plum/spice flavours, showing good ripeness and complexity, and the structure to age well.”
4 STARS
-Michael Cooper, www.michaelcooper.co.nz
“Sandy, floral and dried herb bouquet laced with red cherry and wild fruits; medium brown spice oak with a mild toasty complexity. On the palate – dry, fruity, spicy and tasty, very easy on the palate with flavours of red fruits and oak with medium+ acidity and fine oak lead tannins, longer than anticipated finish – nice!”
4 STARS
-Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, TheShout NZ/HospitalityBusiness Magazine, June issue 2015
“The wine is youthful yet complex and harmonious with dark cherry, plum, floral and mixed spice characters. It is succulent and mouthfilling on the palate, displaying lovely fruit purity as well as smooth texture and fine tannins. The wine is expressive and charming at the same time.”
4.5 STARS
90 POINTS
-Sam Kim, www.wineorbit.co.nz, May 2015
“Full, dark, deep ruby-red colour with slight purple hues, a little lighter on edge. The nose is full with good depth of softly packed aromas of dark red berry and cherry fruit unfolding raspberry liqueur notes. This has richness and harmony with interwoven red liquorice and subtle dark herbal nuances adding detail. Medium-bodied, the palate features rich, sweet, bright and lively dark red berry fruit with raspberry liqueur and hints of plum and liquorice. As the wine flows, soft, supple tannins emerge to provide integrated structure and acidity. The mouthfeel is open and accessible, but with framework and vinous depth to carry the sweet fruit to a long, dry, light-flavoured finish of red berry fruit and liquorice. This is a juicy, dark raspberry fruited Pinot Noir with open structure and liveliness.”
4 STARS
18/20 POINTS
-Raymond Chan, www.raymondchanwinereviews.co.nz, Jan 2016
