Foxes Island
Belsham Awatere Icon Le Renard, Library Release Pinot Noir 2011 750ml

Library Stock

Le Renard Icon Series Pinot Noir 2011 | Awatere Valley, Marlborough | Library Collection

Pinot Noir sits at the heart of Foxes Island, and Le Renard represents its pinnacle. Eighteen years of refinement, patience, and unwavering standards preceded the first Icon release — a journey undertaken only when winemaker John Belshamwas certain the wines were genuinely exceptional and worthy of their status. The 2011 Le Renard stands firmly in this lineage: a wine of quiet power, purity, and grace, crafted for collectors who appreciate depth, detail, and longevity.

From the Awatere Valley’s ancient river-formed terraces, the best vines are hand-tended and hand-harvested, with each decision focused on precision and restraint. The selected fruit is naturally vinified by indigenous yeasts in oak cuves, allowing the wine to express its site with absolute authenticity — a hallmark admired by Burgundy and fine Pinot Noir enthusiasts worldwide.

Throughout its élevage, the wine is moved only by gravity and handled with extraordinary care. It is then matured in small French oak barrels, where texture, structure, and complexity quietly deepen over time. From these components, John Belsham selects only the most exceptional barrels to craft his final Icon blend — Le Renard.

Unfined and naturally settled, the 2011 Le Renard is vegan-friendly and remains a pure, unadulterated expression of terroir. In the glass, the wine unfolds in layers: lifted florals, wild red berries, dark cherry, understated spice, and fine savoury detail. Its presence is both powerful and refined — a classic Pinot Noir of pedigree, poise, and remarkable length.

With its enviable structure and balance, the 2011 Le Renard can be enjoyed today or confidently cellared for 15–20 years. With only limited bottles available from our Library Collection, this is a rare opportunity for collectors seeking New Zealand Pinot Noir of true international standing.