NZ
Australia
Forrest crafts Lagrein from the Awatere Valley's Stanley Estate, highlighting Marlborough diversity
Robust red with dark fruit & Awatere spice ideal for hearty fare
Small‑batch fermentation with extended skin contact, matured ten months in French barriques
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Description
Lagrein remains a rarity outside northern Italy, but Forrest Wines has proven its potential in Marlborough's Awatere Valley - a subregion known for its drier climate, cool nights and fine-boned structure. Sourced from the Stanley Estate, Forrest's Lagrein planting reflects their long-standing drive to push Marlborough beyond expectation. In 2023, fruit was harvested from gravel-rich soils and fermented in small open vessels, with hand plunging and extended post-ferment maceration to extract colour and shape. The wine was then matured for ten months in French oak barriques - 20 percent new - to integrate tannin and build aromatic depth. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, it opens with dark cherry, blackberry and hints of fennel seed and cracked pepper. The palate is full and finely structured, showing plum skin, cocoa and graphite-like minerality. With its firm frame, lifted spice and natural acidity, this is a distinctive, food-ready red that pairs effortlessly with slow-cooked meats or charred venison.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Palate:Pepper
Food Pairings:
Game
Poultry
Red Meat
Description
Lagrein remains a rarity outside northern Italy, but Forrest Wines has proven its potential in Marlborough's Awatere Valley - a subregion known for its drier climate, cool nights and fine-boned structure. Sourced from the Stanley Estate, Forrest's Lagrein planting reflects their long-standing drive to push Marlborough beyond expectation. In 2023, fruit was harvested from gravel-rich soils and fermented in small open vessels, with hand plunging and extended post-ferment maceration to extract colour and shape. The wine was then matured for ten months in French oak barriques - 20 percent new - to integrate tannin and build aromatic depth. Bottled at 13.5% ABV, it opens with dark cherry, blackberry and hints of fennel seed and cracked pepper. The palate is full and finely structured, showing plum skin, cocoa and graphite-like minerality. With its firm frame, lifted spice and natural acidity, this is a distinctive, food-ready red that pairs effortlessly with slow-cooked meats or charred venison.
Tasting Profile
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Palate:
Pepper
Food Pairings:
Game
Poultry
Red Meat
- Light
- Full
- Low Tannin
- Tannic
- Sweet
- Dry
- Low Acidity
- High Acidity
Pepper
Game
Poultry
Red Meat