Martinus Vineyard
 2003 Pinot Noir, Martinborough
Robert and Susan van Zanten planted a small, five acre vineyard ten years ago adjacent to some of the most famous names in Martinborough. Total production is just 200 cases of concentrated, rich, distinctive Pinot Noir, needless to say, very little is coming to this country. A printer by day, Robert has promised to gradually increase production but not compromise quality. Martinborough is the home of top quality Pinot Noir on the North Island.
Winery Profile
Martinus Estate was established in 1998, producing only Pinot Noir, first released in November 2002.
Martinus Estate is located in Martinborough in the South eastern corner of New Zealand’s North Island. The ripening season with it’s long hot days and cool nights are a prerequisite for growing world class Pinot Noir.
Martinus Estate is planted to a wide variety of Pinot Noir clones including the new Dijon clones, on varying rootstocks and on differing trellising systems, where the fruiting wire ranges from 900mm to a knee scaping 400mm .A combination of the inherent low cropping of the Martinborough Terrace, prevailing winds and selective fruit thinning, results in Pinot Noir of great complexity .
Our philosophy is quite simple, “Minimalistic approach enabling the “ terroir” held within the grape to express itself.” Our 6-acre vineyard will ultimately produce enough fruit for around 600 cases as new plantings come on stream.
The grapes are hand harvested each year. Fermentations are in small stainless steel tanks with the wine sitting on its skins for around 21 days. The wine is aged for 10 months in French oak with approximately 25% being new.
There are six acres planted to Pinot Noir, each vine is carefully tended to by Robert and his wife, Susan.
This is truly a family business, at harvest time grapes are handpicked by parents, brothers, sisters and friends. Robert and Susan have four young children Jason age 11 Aaron age 9 Scott age 7 and Nicole age 5.The name Martinus Estate derives from Roberts family, as for generations the first born son has always been called Martinus.
Labels:
Pinot Noir Label in PDF  25 kb
Pinot Noir Label in JPG  130 kb
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