Astrolabe Wrekin Pinot Noir 2019

Colour: Dark ruby red with purple hue.

Nose: Spicy dark plum compote with dried rose petal, smoky oak, anise and leather.

Palate: Full, smooth, dark and brooding, with nutty, brambly fruit notes, mouth-filling tannins and a lingering finish.

Cellaring: This wine is already drinking well, but it will continue to evolve, increasing in complexity and roundness over several years.

Food Pairing: Roasted venison, rabbit, smoky eggplant, seared lamb and wild mushroom ragù.

Climate: The 2018-2019 growing season was warm and dry, with a shorter period between budburst and harvest than typical. Drought conditions prevailed pre-harvest, and some timely rain towards the end helped vine health and grape flavour development. Berry size was smaller and bunch weight less than the previous two seasons, and crop loads were well balanced to soils and vine vigour. Soils: The soils, based on glacial outwash, are some of the oldest in the province and range from deep loams to tight clays on a steeply sloping hillside. Vine Management: Standard trellis with pruning to two canes and vertical shoot positioning. Vines are trimmed closely, well tucked, and leaf plucking is minimal. Cluster thinning is used to ensure light crops and evenly ripened and balanced fruit. Harvest Date: Between the 14th and 26th March, 2019.

Hand-picked, destemmed, cold soaked for six days, fermented wild.

Aged in French oak barrels, 33% new, for 10 months, where it underwent natural malolactic fermentation. Selected barrels were then blended and aged for an additional seven months. Bottled 21st July, 2020.