Tasting Notes
Cowley Family Vineyard is located in the Ben Morven foothills of Marlborough. It's a magnificent, sweeping site, divided into a large number of sub-plots and nurtured meticulously (and organically) by Ben Cowley. Corofin's fruit comes from the main slopes, planted at a density of 3,800 vines per hectare on clay-rich soils. 2015 was the first year that Paterson worked exclusively with the vineyard's 20 year old Abel vines ‚– colloquially known as the Gumboot clone. The Abel fruit is prized for its natural acidity and tannins. Corofin's 2o16 from this site is darker and inkier than the Settlement, but it lacks nothing in both energy and lift. Expect dark cherry and iodine scented fruit and a savoury palate with fine tannins running from go to whoa.
Corofin is a boutique Marlborough winery founded in 2014 by Mike and Anna Paterson, with a focus on single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Mike, who spent many years as a winemaker at Neudorf in Nelson, created Corofin to highlight the subtleties of Marlborough’s vineyard sites rather than produce region-wide blends. Grapes are sourced from carefully selected family-owned vineyards in the Wairau, Southern Valleys and coastal subregions, where low-intervention farming practices emphasise soil health and fruit balance.
In the cellar, the approach is deliberately restrained: hand harvesting, wild fermentation, gentle extraction and judicious use of oak ensure wines of purity and finesse. Each bottling is made in small quantities, designed to express the nuances of soil, aspect and microclimate rather than cellar technique.
Corofin has quickly earned a reputation as one of Marlborough’s most thoughtful small producers, creating wines that balance elegance and freshness with a strong sense of place.
| Product Type | Wine Red Pinot Noir |
| Volume | 750ml |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Marlborough |
| Winemaking Practices | Conventional |
| Vineyard Practices | Conventional |