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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2022 'The Raptor' Pinot Noir, Lake Chalice Wine Republic

2023 'The Raptor' Pinot Noir, Lake Chalice

Marlborough, New Zealand

Velvet Talon

Dark raspberry, blueberry, and ripe cherry rise from the glass, layered with rose, crushed thyme, and a subtle hint of olive leaf. Delicate baking spice and seasoned oak add warmth, giving the wine a dark, perfumed personality without overwhelming its elegant fruit.

The palate is rich and beautifully shaped, with a generous mid-palate, silky tannins and lively acidity. Plum and berry flavours meet a smooth milk-chocolate texture before a long, lightly toasted finish. This is a polished single-vineyard Pinot Noir with enough savoury complexity for serious wine drinkers, yet enough suppleness to enjoy without ceremony.

For when: Dinner calls for something darker, smoother and quietly impressive.

Pairs with: Duck breast, roast pork, lamb loin, mushroom tart, venison or earthy lentil dishes.

The Raptor range is built around small parcels that show exceptional varietal character. This Pinot Noir comes from Lake Chalice’s Eyrie Vineyard in Marlborough’s cooler Waihopai Valley, where well-draining clay over gravel gives Pinot Noir perfume, depth and structure. It is a more focused and layered expression of the estate’s style, balancing ripe fruit with freshness and finely judged oak.

Whats in the bottle
100% Pinot Noir

Notable Awards
92 points, Cameron Douglas MS

£22.95 - £22.95
£22.95
£22.95 - £22.95
£22.95
Availability:
In stock

Established in 1989, Lake Chalice is a privately owned Marlborough producer with a strong reputation for expressive, vineyard-led wines. The Ibbotson family has owned the estate since 2015, continuing its independent spirit and close connection to the region.

The estate works with three contrasting vineyards across Marlborough. Falcon Vineyard lies on an old river course in the Wairau Valley, where stony, sandy soils naturally restrict yields. Talon Vineyard occupies the fertile silty loams of Dillon’s Point and is devoted to Sauvignon Blanc. For Pinot Noir, the key site is Eyrie Vineyard in the cooler Waihopai Valley. Planted in 2002, its well-draining clay-over-gravel soils bring depth, perfume and structure to the variety.

Winemaker Chloe Gabrielsen treats each vineyard and parcel on its own merits, aiming to preserve the personality of both place and season. The Raptor range is reserved for small parcels that stand out for their varietal expression and quality, giving customers a more focused step up within the Lake Chalice portfolio. The wines remain generous and approachable, but carry greater depth and detail. Lake Chalice is certified through Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand and supports the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust, helping protect the native kārearea shown on every bottle.

The grapes were fermented in small open-top vats, enabling maximum hand plunging. The wine was pressed and racked into barrels where it underwent full malolactic conversion. The wine was then matured for 11 months ageing in 11 selected Tonnellerie Mercurey and François Frères French oak barriques, of which over one-third were new. The final blending was carefully selected from the barrels delivering the greatest expression.

Country
New Zealand

Grape
Pinot Noir

Producer
Lake Chalice

Region
Marlborough, South Island

Size
750ml

Vintage
2023

Types
Red Wine