I admit to questioning why someone would name a wine brand after something that inherently smells bad, such as a wet jacket. So, a few years ago I delved a little deeper into Wet Jacket Wines as I was quite beguiled by their pinot noir rosé. It turns out that the name refers to Wet Jacket Arm (Moana Uta), a remote yet stunningly beautiful part of Fiordland so named by Captain Cook during his second trip to New Zealand in 1773. During this stay Cook’s crew took longboat trips to explore and one group returned completely sodden after getting caught in a storm. As a result, Wet Jacket Arm was the name given by Cook to the area.

For Greg Hay, the owner of Wet Jacket Wines, Wet Jacket Arm is a spiritual retreat. He spends a great deal of time hunting and foraging in the area and is passionately dedicated to wildlife conservation as a trustee of the Fiordland Conservation Trust. The trust exists to ensure the survival of endangered native and endemic birds in Fiordland and protect the taonga of southern New Zealand.

With this wine, the Wet Jacket team has reflected the rugged beauty of their namesake. It is wonderfully deeply coloured with aromas of cherries, blackberries and Black Doris plums with some red fruits set against dark, violet florals. The complex nose leads into an equally complex palate which is beautifully balanced with great concentration. The palate is plush and soft with lifted sweet fruit, vanilla and dried thyme alongside brooding, earthy forest floor that gives yet another level of complexity. Poised pinot perfection.