Wild Earth Pinot Noir 2019

Deep garnet hue with intense aromas of cherry, blackberry, cedar, wild thyme, mushroom and earthy loam. The cooler 2019 vintage has delivered an elegant wine with great concentration and a remarkable core with layers of dark red fruit, wild herb and distinctive earthy flavours complementing a highly focused palate with great intensity and length. Silky fine tannins, vibrant fruit and intense aromas complement a serious structure with so much finesse. Harmonious and lively, this Pinot Noir is drinking beautifully as a young wine and should continue to deliver enjoyment for 15+ years.

The 2018 - 2019 growing season returned to more classic conditions with warm (but not hot) days and cool nights. Yields were normal with minimal disease pressure and we had the benefit of the classic long hang time. The cool nights helped retain the perfect level of acidity.

This Pinot Noir is Central Otago representing the best attributes of the 2019 season. The fruit was hand harvested at optimal ripeness with harvest dates ranging from early to late April 2019. Eight ferments went into the blend ranging from 0-50% whole bunches per fermenter with the resulting blend having around 21% whole clusters, which aids the tannin structure and aromatics of the wine. The total time on skins ranging from 18-28 days. The wine was aged in fine grain French oak: 22% new, 33% 1 year old and 45% 2-5 year old barriques for approximately 12 months. Our winemaker selected fruit from four exceptional vineyards in Central Otago with an emphasis on cooler sites to create a fresh and elegant wine that will age gracefully.