Twins

We were at the place of birth, and we had to have a wine from the source.  Stew Pot and Mitty were taking great delight in sipping on the 2010 Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Southern Clays’ Marlborough Pinot Noir.  It’s certainly one of my favourites from the stable, as it has darker fruit flavours, berries and plums, and a full, fleshy nature.  The wine reflects its origins, the Southern Hills with the clay-influenced soils, a little heavier for sure, and it’s in the wine.  It’s certainly no fruit bomb, as there is a modicum of restraint, and there’s good structure too.  It seems to want to deliver too much, but it never does.  You ending up partaking another glass, always.  Could we do better?  It would seem not.

Until we discovered a twin to the wine that we were meant to partake of, compare and enjoy with the first.  Out host had left if for us.  A 2010 Villa Maria ‘Single Vineyard – Taylors Pass’ Marlborough Pinot Noir.   From higher in elevation, and lighter soils, to the south, on the cusp of the Awatere Valley, on the northern bank of the river.  And it comes through in the wine.  The wine is lighter, finer, tighter.  More red fruits, cherries for sure, with more pronounced cut, acid and tannins.  Less flesh.  Some might say it is more classical Olde Worlde style.  Well, Stew Pot and Mitty took a liking to this one.  Whereas SWMBO and I liked the former.

There’s so much to like about both, because there’s a lot of similarities, after all they come from the same family.  They’re actually twins, and not identical, of course