Pinot Noir from
New Zealand – Wairarapa & Wellington
17.5+/20Moderately deep, dark ruby-red colour with a light purple-garnet edge. This has a full, voluminous nose with lifted aromatics of savoury, ripe dark, berry and cherry fruit with hints of raspberry liqueur, dried herbs, oak spices and cedar. Medium-full bodied, lifted fruit flavours of ripe, dark red berry fruit interwoven with brown spices, savoury mushrooms and cedar show with sweetness, lusciousness and succulence. Supple, fine-grained, but serious tannins underline the palate with elevated and lively acidity providing drive and length. The finish has layers of ethereal florals and oak spices that linger. Fruit from 15 y.o. vines from the ‘Old Block' fully destemmed, with the fermentation initiated by indigenous yeasts, temperatures allowed to 34°C, the wine spending 26 days on skins. The resultant wine, at 13.5% alc., was matured 11 months in one-third new French oak. This ‘Reserve' bottling is a selection of 5 barrels from 28 made in 2009. A complex, lifted and savoury Pinot Noir combining layers of fruit and oak spices. This will match Middle Eastern and Asian duck and pork dishes over the next 5-7+ years. 17.5+/20 Jan 2012 RRP $TBA