Wines
Pinot Noir
Our selected estate vineyard blocks were kept separate until final blending. The grape bunches are mostly de-stemmed and all fermented naturally in open vats. After gentle plunging the wine is drained to barrels for 11 months prior to blending. Kimi Pinot Noir typically presents with aromas of red fruits like strawberry and cherry, earthy mushroom and leaf litter notes, hints of spice from oak, with a balanced palate of red and dark berries supported by fine tannins and fresh acidity, leading to a long, complex finish. Savoury notes such as paprika, ironbark, or even heliotrope, with texture being a key feature of the wine.
| Origin - Vineyards: | Marlborough - Waihopai Valley 'Johnson Vineyard' - Top terraces with clay/ silt loam lenses over free draining alluvium. Omaka Valley 'Outpost Vineyard' - Variable depth windblown clay/loess over clay bound glacial gravel. Direct North facing aspect, on moderately steep hillside slopes. |
| Grape Variety: | 100% Pinot Noir |
| Vinification - Fermentation: | The wine is fermented using natural yeast, which enhances the wine's unique character and allows it to express the terroir of the vineyards. During fermentation, the wine is gently plunged and then pressed before being aged in barrels for 11 months. During this time, the wine undergoes a natural malolactic fermentation, adding further depth and complexity to the final product. |
| Aromas & Palate: | Notes of strawberry, cherry, raspberry, and pomegranate. Earthy & Savoury notes as forest floor, mushroom, dried leaf litter, and even hints of dried herbs or ironbark. Spices: Oak influence brings out cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, while some peppery notes. Other Notes: Some Kimi-style Pinot Noirs exhibit characteristics such as red soils, blood orange, or even hints of rose. The palate is typically balanced, with red and dark fruit flavours integrating with earthy and savoury notes. The tannins are fine-grained providing a silken textural sensation. The acidity is refreshing and carries the flavours, ensuring a long and complex finish. |
New Zealand ~ Marlborough: Kimi by Johnson Family
The 1990s were a time of discovery and courage in Marlborough. Deep in the Waihopai Valley, Bryan and Jan Johnson had the audacity to establish 180 hectares of estate vineyards on land considered too hard, too dry and too un-fertile for wine.
It was a venture that started with a passion for the land. This pioneering spirit established one of New Zealand’s most successful family-run wineries. Today, the commitment remains to the land and to the people who tend it – we are simply farmers at heart, nurturing soil and vine to cultivate the complexities in our wine. And we’re mindful that it’s our focus on sustainability which will ensure our guardianship of this land for generations to come.
As a New Zealand family owned winery, our sustainability and environmental responsibilities run deeply throughout all of our decisions and actions. Our mission is to conserve, preserve and protect as custodians of our land and legacy.
We are proudly accredited under the New Zealand Sustainable Wine-growing scheme (since 1999), which promotes economically and environmentally sustainable vineyard management.
International
These are our producers outside of Italy.
