Steve Bird Big Barrel Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019

Bright, ruby-red with wonderful depth, a hint of purple on the rim. The nose has depth, showing savory, gamey characters; deep floral notes melded with dark cherries, blackberries. The palate is smooth with dark cherry and blackberry fruit notes, underlying a rich layer of herbs and liquorice; fresh acidity adds another dimension of flavour forming a medium-bodied wine, presenting some chalky minerality. The finish is poise with the support of delicate spices. An enticing texture of smooth and silky tannin with chalky minerality. Complex and moreish.

This Southern Valley's hillside vineyard is on Wither Hills Silt Loam soils over clay with a North- Easterly aspect. It forms a perfect little heat trap during the growing season leading to early ripening and good colour development. The planting consist of clones 667, 777, 5, 114, 115, and Abel.

Destemmed into small batch ferments. 7 days preferment maceration and hand plunged during fermentation.

16 months in French oak, 20% new.