Critic Scores:

• 97 – James Suckling
• 96 – Stephen Wong, The Real Review
• 96 – Halliday Wine Companion

Sourced from distinct, east-facing parcels on the lakefront of Wānaka, where ancient clay reefs intersect fine schist gravels, the 2023 Emma's Block beautifully encapsulates a vintage defined by restraint, natural definition, and highly precise structures.

The cooler tail-end of the season slowed the final ripening path, steering the wine away from opulent fruit weight toward an intricately detailed, energetic sensory profile. In the glass, it reveals a deep ruby appearance that opens into an aromatic bouquet of wild strawberries, wet flint, iodine, and sea breeze.

On the palate, the medium-bodied texture is supple but tautly balanced, unrolling layers of dark plum, wild herbs, and a savory undercurrent of dried meats and turned leaves.

Lead critic James Suckling highly commended the vintage's focused energy, noting that it is "polished and linear with a fine thread of tannins and acidity throughout", leading into an expanded, harmonious finish accented by a complex dusting of brown baking spices and black olive.