Jules Taylor OTQ Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020
New Zealand, Southern Valleys
Description
Bright red-purple. Violet, poached plum and stewed tamarillo notes overlay darker hints of blackberry and vanilla compote. The nose is completed by lovely smoky, earthy spice and hints of cocoa and cinnamon from the French oak barriques. Generous and juicy on the palate, this Pinot Noir has an elegant structure embracing a beautiful balance of berry fruit and savoury flavours. Smoky oak and firm, spicy tannins leading to a long, dry finish.
Awards
90 pts Wine Enthusiast Points
95 pts Wine Orbit
5 stars Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide
93 pts The Real Review
Certifications
Alcohol
13.88%
Analytical data
dry
Vineyard
The grapes for this Pinot Noir were grown organically and biodynamically on the Wrekin Vineyard which lies in Marlborough’s Brancott Valley. Positioned on northwestern facing slopes, set in deep clay soils, this charming little vineyard was carefully managed to provide a very low-yielding, highly concentrated crop of a mix of quality Pinot Noir clones: 115, 667, 777, 10/5 and Abel.
Vinification
The intensely flavoured fruit was hand harvested in mid to late March, then de-stemmed into small open top fermenters where it was cold soaked for six days. The wine was then fermented with indigenous yeast. Delicate hand plunging during fermentation avoided over-extraction of tannins and colour.
Maturation
After some time on skins and extended maceration, the wine was pressed into a combination of new and old French barriques where it underwent a full malolactic fermentation. After nine months in barrel, the wine was given a light egg white fining and bottled.