Fromm, Clayvin Vineyard Pinot Noir, 2021

Grapes

Pinot Noir

Vintage report

The 2021 growing season in Marlborough threw winemakers a proper curveball with an unusually cool, wet summer that had everyone fretting about ripeness and disease pressure. Rain persisted well into what should have been the dry months, forcing growers to work overtime in their vineyards with canopy management and careful fruit selection. When harvest finally arrived, it stretched later than usual, with many producers picking well into April under pressure to capture what ripeness they could.

What emerged was a vintage that surprised everyone who'd written it off as difficult. The Sauvignon Blancs show remarkable freshness and intensity—think citrus pith and fresh herbs rather than the tropical exuberance of warmer years—whilst the Pinots display a lovely restraint and genuine varietal character that we find rather compelling. These aren't blockbuster wines, but they're drinking beautifully now with a tension and minerality that makes them feel more European in style. Most will reward drinking until 2026, though the best Pinots could easily go longer.