Innocent Bystander Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019

A lively red and blue fruit aroma supported by savory, spicy undertones of clove, sage and lavender. The palate delivers juicy raspberry and cherry flavors with earthy undertones. The wine has a lovely weight and texture with polished, structured tannins and vibrant natural acidity.

Some of the region suffered from frost on the 12th and 13th October with three frosts in a row at the end of vintage. Some locals say that vintage conditions appear to be becoming increasingly diverse from year to year. The 2019 vintage will produce wines somewhere between the concentrated 2017 vintage and the lighter 2018.

Fruit was sourced from vineyards in Wanaka, Lowburn, Bendigo and Queensbury, up and down Central Otago, to achieve perfumed aromatics as well as the characteristic plummy juicy density that typifies this area. 20% of the grapes were kept as whole bunches and juice was added to partially submerge those bunches. The fermenters were then covered, immersed with carbon dioxide and left to cold macerate until fermentation by indigenous yeasts began. After fermentation the wine spent 11 months in barrel for natural settling and was bottled without filtration or fining.

11 months in 100% French oak barriques (10% new)