Bendigo Estate Pinot Noir 2019

"Black Ops"

Deep ruby in colour with a layered bouquet of red berries, floral and savoury notes. Rich and opulent on the palate with dark cherry, plum and spice. Elegant yet mouth filling with an impressive purity and power. Very good ageing potential.

• Reviews
• Vintage
• Winemaking
• Technical

• 95 points by Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Jun 2021)
  96 pointsand5 Stars by Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review (Jan 2021)
  Super Classic and 5 Starsby Michael Cooper MW (Jan 2021)
  
• The season started with mild temperatures throughout Spring, an earlier than usual budburst and rainfall in late Nov/early Dec providing good levels of moisture. We were challenged with two severe cold fronts during budburst and flowering which despite frost fighting efforts resulted in a smaller crop. Warm and settled weather followed producing overall a hotter than usual growing season. With veraison starting in the last week of January, we began (to expect) yet another early harvest. The 2019 vintage impression is extremely good quality.
• Hand-picked on the 8th April from block 9. 10% whole bunch. Cold soaked for 7 days before indigenous yeast fermentation kicked in. Gentle hand plunging throughout ferment, followed by post-fermentation maceration of 6 days to ensure optimum fruit and tannin balance. Total time on skin; 21 days. Drained directly into selected French oak barriques (20% new, 40% 1 year old, 20% 2 years old and 20% 3 years old) where the wine aged for 15 months during which natural malolactic fermentation occured. Bottled without fining and filtration.
• pH: 3.61,
  Total Acidity: 5.6g/l
  Alcohol: 14%
  Volume: 750ml
  Clone: Abel & 115
  Bottling Date: 30th July 2020
  Ageing Potential: 7 – 10 years

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