Quartz Reef Bendigo Single Ferment Pinot Noir 2020

Deep bright ruby, with a fragrant , complex bouquet, it is mouth filling and sweet-fruited, with rich, beautifully ripe flavours, a hint of liquorice, and savoury, smooth finish. Already delicious, ageing potential 7-10 years.

From our pioneer Bendigo Estate vineyard. BioGro certified organic and Demeter certified biodynamic; with a vine density of 5,000 - 8,000 plants per hectare on grafted pinot noir clones, planted in 1998. The soils on the beautiful north facing slope are Waenga fine sandy loam and Letts steepland with an elevation from 217 – 264 metres, on 44.55° south. Clone: Abel & 115

Hand-picked on the 8th April from block 9 of the vineyard. 10% whole bunch. Cold soaked for 7 days before indigenous yeast fermentation kicked in. Gentle hand plunging throughout ferment, followed by post-fermentation maceration of 6 days to ensure optimum fruit and tannin balance. Total time on skin; 21 days. Drained directly into selected French oak barriques (20% new, 40% 1 year old, 20% 2 years old and 20% 3 years old) where the wine aged for 15 months during which natural malolactic fermentation occured. Bottled without fining and filtration.

This single ferment named “Charlee Bubs” has been selected as it best expresses the Bendigo Estate vineyard and the growing season. Hand harvested on the 1st of April from block 4. Cold soaked for 5 days before indigenous yeast fermentation kicked in. Gentle hand plunging throughout ferment, followed by post fermentation maceration of 6 days to ensure optimum fruit and tannin balance. Total time on skin: 22 days. Drained directly into selected French oak barriques (16 % new, 33 % 2 year old, 51 % 3 years old) where the wine aged for 13 months during which natural malolactic fermentation occurred.