Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2020

Our Marlborough Reserve Pinot Noir showcases bright floral aromas as well as fresh black cherries and red raspberries. On the palate is an inviting mixture of dark chocolate and juicy summer berries with hints of fresh portabello mushrooms. This complex wine shows both purity and richness with chalky dense tannins and a gentle acidity to complete the wine. With correct cellaring, this wine will age gracefully, slowly releasing more fruit weight and savoury characters with bottle maturation.

From two vineyards with deep clay-based soils in the Wairau Valley. Rutherford and Cowley are in the sheltered north-facing Ben Morven Valley. Our Taylors Pass and Seddon Vineyards provided the balance of the fruit and are in the cooler Awatere Valley, both with free-draining windblown silt loess soils adjacent to the Awatere River.

100% hand picked, fruit is chilled overnight. Fermented in small open top fermenters, 5-7 days cold soak, indigenous yeasts, ferments peaking at 34°C. Total time on skins 22-26 days Matured for 14 months in 35% new French barriques and 65% seasoned barriques, followed by 4 months settling in tank.