Wine Note

This wine is a testament to the careful attention in the vineyard and the gentle handling in the winery.  Succulent ripe cherry, spice and gamey notes combine to make a complex and beautifully balanced Pinot Noir

Fruit

100% Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir

Alcohol Content

14%

Harvest

The fruit was harvested between the 17th and the 23rd of March 2007 at optimim ripeness and flavour.  
Brix 23.3 – 25.7    pH 3.34 – 3.66    TA 6.3– 7.8g/l 

Vinification

All the different clones of Pinot Noir were hand picked separately and kept separate until blending. The grapes were gently destemed into fermentation vessels. Some of the batches were cold soaked for 7-10 days after which the vessels were inoculated with a specially selected Burgundy yeast. Fermentation temperature peaked at 30C and lasted 7 days before being traditionally pressed through a Basket Press. Malo-lactic fermentation was carried out in barriques and the wine was matured in barrels for 9 months prior to bottling.

Composition

100% Hawkes Bay Pinot Noir

Barrel Percentage

32% New French oak barriques, 68% seasoned French barriques.

Bottling

Alc 14.00%     pH 3.70    TA 4.8g/l

Sensory

Colour: Deep cherry red. 
  
Aroma: Attractive bouquet showing lifted floral and damson plum with subtle integrated oak characters.  
 
Palate: This wine is a testament to the careful attention in the vineyard and the gentle handling in the winery. Succulent ripe cherry, spice and gamey notes combine to make a complex and beautifully balanced Pinot Noir 

Cellaring

This wine is ready to be opened now but will also improve with 3-4 years development in the bottle.