Description
Comprising six different pinot noir clones from vines dating back to 1983. Vines are cropped at 6.7 tonnes/ha, hand harvested and hand sorted, prior to de-stemming (30% whole bunch included). The fruit is fermented in small stainless open top fermenters without pumping. Fermentation is conducted by indigenous yeasts over a period of 3 weeks prior to pressing into French oak barrels (30% new) for 18 months. Bright and pure dark berries and plums characteristic of the Southern Valleys subregion are evident. There is opulent fruit profile with a fine velvet texture from fine boned tannins.
Awards
96 pts The Real Review
94 pts James Suckling
5 stars Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide
93 pts Wine Spectator Points
Certifications
Alcohol
13.5%
Analytical data
Vineyard
Location: Marlborough home vineyards, Settlement and Yarrum, largely all on hill slopes. Viticulture: 3.5 tonnes/hectare. Some plantings date back to 1983. Clones: 70% Dijon Clones (667,777,115) 15% Clone 5, 10% Abel, 5% 10/5. Soil: Clay loams.
Vinification
Hand picked and chilled overnight prior to handsorting. 75% destemmed and 25% whole bunches included.
Maturation
Fermented in small stainless open top fermenters with 100% indigenous yeasts over a period of 3 weeks prior to pressing into French oak barrels for eighteen months (30% new).