Pinot Noir 2019

Aromas of deep black doris plum, and dark cherry. Rich on the palate with blackcurrant, plum, forest floor notes and subtle spice. An elegant wine with classy tannins and a long vibrant finish.

• Reviews
• Vintage
• Winemaking
• Technical

• 93 points by Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Jun 2021)
  95 points and 5 Stars by Bob Campbell 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 28th March, 4th and 8th April. Each clone was small batch vinified with a small percentage of whole cluster per ferment. Cold Soaked for up to 7 days before indigenous yeast fermentation kicked in. Gentle plunging each day, followed by post maceration of up to 9 days to ensure optimum fruit and tannin balance. Total time on skin; 19-24 days. Drained directly into selected French oak barriques (33% new) where the wine aged for 12 months during which wild malolactic fermentation occurs.
  The winemaking was very much in keeping with the traditional practices of the Old World. The winemaker, Rudi Bauer, has combined these techniques, and his own personal understanding, to create this wine.
• pH: 3.66, TA: 5.4 g/L, Alc: 14.0%
  Bottling Date: 4th August 2020
  Ageing Potential: 6 – 9 years

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