Driven by palate, elegance and sophistication, our 2016 Abel Pinot Noir is one of the most exceptional wines Jackson Estate has ever produced. It is perhaps the story behind this particular clone of Pinot Noir that really places it as a firm favourite.
The Abel clone story begins with a Pinot Noir cutting reportedly taken from the renowned Domaine de la Romanée-Conti vineyards in Burgundy by a mischievous tourist. This vine snippet made its way to New Zealand in a gumboot and was seized by Malcolm Abel, a local winemaker who also worked as a customs officer at Auckland airport. Recognizing its significance, he forwarded the grapevine to the government's viticultural research center for proper handling.
Subsequently, the initial cuttings were distributed, and Abel went on to plant them. Although his vineyard is no longer operational, Abel's cuttings have been widely shared, with the Abel clone forming the basis of many top-tier Pinot Noir varieties in New Zealand today.
