Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2023: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Grippy & Gastronomic

Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2023 is a beautifully structured Marlborough Pinot Noir with dark cherry, plum, violet, spice and earthy forest-floor complexity. It is certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable, with the kind of savoury depth and fine acidity that makes Pinot Noir so compelling at the table. This is a more serious, age-worthy expression of Marlborough Pinot, while still offering enough purity and fruit to enjoy now.

Highlights

• Certified organic, certified biodynamic and vegan suitable
• Crafted by Seresin Estate — one of Marlborough’s benchmark organic and biodynamic producers
• Dark cherry, plum, violet, spice, forest floor and savoury earth
• Estate-grown fruit from Raupo Creek vineyard on Osip hill in the Omaka Valley
• 94 points — Cameron Douglas MS; 93 points — Stephen Wong MW; 92 points — James Suckling; 91 points — Wine Advocate; 4.5 stars — Michael Cooper
• 14.0% ABV

Tasting Notes

Lifted and complex, with violet, dark cherry, plum, blackcurrant, raspberry, rose, spice, black tea and earthy forest-floor notes. The palate is dry, medium-bodied and finely structured, with concentrated fruit wrapped around firm, dusty tannins and focused acidity. It has lovely savoury depth, mineral freshness and a long, elegant finish that will reward a little patience.

Winemaking

The fruit was hand-picked, destemmed and fermented in small batches, using a combination of wild and selected yeasts. The wine spent 3–4 weeks on skins with gentle plunging during fermentation, then was drained, lightly pressed and transferred to aged French oak barrels. It completed natural malolactic fermentation during maturation and was bottled lightly filtered and unfined.

Vineyard & Vintage

This wine comes from Seresin’s clay-rich Raupo Creek vineyard on Osip hill, a north-facing slope in the Omaka Valley, Marlborough. The blend includes selected Pinot Noir clones, including 10/5, 777, 5 and Abel 6. The 2023 vintage was challenging, with dry stable flowering, strong fruit set and later rainfall that required careful vineyard work and crop thinning. Pinot Noir picking began on 16 March, with a strong focus on fruit selection from the Raupo vineyard.

Why We Love It

Leah is the gateway into Seresin’s more serious Pinot Noir world, and the 2023 vintage has real depth. It gives you dark cherry and plum, but also the savoury, earthy, mineral detail that makes biodynamic Pinot so rewarding. It is elegant enough for a special dinner, structured enough to cellar, and beautifully matched to food.

Food Pairing

This Pinot Noir’s firm tannins, savoury spice and bright acidity make it a brilliant match for duck, mushrooms, beetroot, roast chicken, lamb, salmon and earthy vegetarian dishes. It is especially good with food that has sweetness, umami or gentle spice.

Try matching this wine with →

• Duck breast with cherry sauce and bitter leaves — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom bourguignon with herbs and pearl onions — Find a Recipe
• Beetroot and goat cheese tart with thyme — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

Open this for a dinner where the food deserves something thoughtful: duck, mushrooms, roast vegetables, candlelight, good glasses and a slower conversation.

Cellaring

Drink now to 2032, or cellar carefully for further savoury development. It is already approachable with air, but the tannin, acidity and fruit concentration suggest it will build more complexity over the next several years. For best results, store in a cool, dark place with minimal temperature movement.

Producer

Seresin Estate is a pioneering organic and biodynamic producer based in Marlborough, New Zealand. Founded by cinematographer Michael Seresin in the early 1990s, the estate has long focused on creating high-quality wine in the most natural way possible. The Raupo Creek vineyard in the Omaka Valley is farmed following organic and biodynamic principles, with clay-rich soils, a gentle north-west facing aspect, high sunshine hours and minimal rainfall. The wines are made with gentle, traditional winemaking and a strong sense of place.

Related Wines To Try →

Love this structured biodynamic Marlborough Pinot Noir? These elegant, red-fruited and food-friendly wines are worth exploring next.

• Fresh organic Marlborough Pinot with cherry, plum and fine spice — Momo Pinot Noir
• Premium biodynamic Tasmanian Pinot with dark cherry and savoury detail — Stefano Lubiana Estate Pinot Noir
• Soft organic New Zealand Pinot with ripe cherry and gentle tannins — Little Goat Creek Pinot Noir

FAQ

What does Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2023 taste like?

Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2023 tastes of dark cherry, plum, violet, raspberry, black tea, spice and forest floor. It is dry, medium-bodied and savoury, with firm dusty tannins and focused acidity. The finish is long, mineral and elegant, with plenty of depth for Pinot Noir lovers.

Is this Pinot Noir light or full-bodied?

This sits in the medium-bodied range, with more structure and concentration than a very light Pinot Noir. The tannins are firm and the acidity is clear, so it has a serious shape rather than a soft, simple profile. It is still recognisably Pinot Noir: aromatic, fine-boned and graceful.

Is Seresin Leah Pinot Noir organic or biodynamic?

Yes, this wine is certified organic and certified biodynamic. The Raupo Creek vineyard is farmed following organic and biodynamic principles, with the aim of supporting soil health, vineyard balance and clear expression of place. It is also vegan suitable.

Is this wine preservative-free?

This wine is not listed as preservative free, and it contains sulphites. For customers specifically seeking No Added Preservative wines, browse the preservative-free range. Organic and biodynamic wines can still contain sulphites unless specifically labelled as no-added-preservative.

Does this wine contain sulphites?

Yes, this wine contains sulphites, with total SO₂ listed at 69 ppm. Most wines contain some naturally occurring sulphites, and many also use added sulphites for stability and freshness. Biodynamic and organic certification does not automatically mean sulphite-free.

How should I serve Seresin Leah Pinot Noir?

Serve at around 14–16°C in a Pinot Noir or Burgundy-style glass. This wine benefits from air, so open it 20–30 minutes before serving or give it a gentle decant. A large glass will help the violet, cherry, spice and earthy notes open properly.

What food pairs best with this wine?

It pairs beautifully with duck, roast chicken, mushroom dishes, beetroot, lamb, salmon, soft cheeses and savoury vegetarian meals. The fine acidity works well with richness, while the savoury tannin line suits earthy ingredients. Mushroom bourguignon, beetroot tart or duck with cherry sauce would all be excellent.

How long will it last after opening?

Once opened, reseal and store the bottle in the fridge. It should drink well for 2–3 days, especially with a proper wine stopper. Let it come back toward cellar temperature before serving again so the aromatics are not dulled by the fridge.

Can this wine be cellared?

Yes, this is one of the stronger cellaring candidates in the Seresin range. Drink now to 2032, with the best balance likely to develop after a few more years in bottle. Cellaring should bring more savoury, earthy and silky notes as the tannins soften.

Is this wine vegan friendly?

Yes, Seresin Leah Pinot Noir 2023 is vegan suitable. It is bottled unfined, which also supports its vegan-friendly status. This makes it a strong choice for mixed tables where organic, biodynamic and vegan wine credentials matter.

Who will enjoy this Pinot Noir most?

This will suit drinkers who enjoy structured, savoury Pinot Noir with dark cherry, spice, mineral detail and the ability to age. If you like Marlborough Pinot, Tasmanian Pinot or Burgundy-inspired reds with more tannin and earthy complexity, this is a beautiful fit. It is also ideal for anyone wanting a certified biodynamic red with genuine elegance.

Is this wine keto friendly?

This is a dry red wine, with residual sugar listed at approximately 2 g/L and less than 1 g of sugar per 100 mL. That makes it a lower-sugar wine option compared with off-dry or sweet styles. Suitability depends on individual dietary goals and serving size.

(SKU: SE_Lea_CV)