Rapaura Springs Limestone Terrace Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Fine and fragrant, with floral, cherry and redcurrant fruit characters. The palate is complex with ripe red berry and plum fruits. Fresh thyme herbs complement the bright fruits and offer a lovely savoury element.

The Limestone Terrace Vineyard is located in the Ward sub-region of Marlborough’s Southern Coast. The close proximity to the ocean means the spectacularly rugged site is exposed to the cool southerly winds, which naturally inhibit yields. The soils are a mix of silt loam and loess overlaying greywacke gravels, sedimentary limestone and sandstone.

2020 would’ve been the perfect harvest, if it wasn’t for COVID-19. The introduction of a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the virus coincided with the beginning of picking, bringing with it the very real possibility that the industry would be shut down, preventing us from harvesting our fruit. Our vineyard and winery teams moved incredibly fast to adhere to strict distancing and hygiene protocols to allow us to continue to operate. Our Pinot Noir grapes were carefully hand-harvested under these conditions. After harvest the Pinot Noir was cold-soaked for five days, prior to wild fermentation. Whole bunch components (17%) were included for additional complexity. After fermentation, the must was pressed and the wine aged for ten months in French Oak, including 30% new oak.