This Marlborough Pinot Noir is fresh & vibrant with soft tannins & good length. It has intense primary fruit characters of blackberry & bramble on the nose with a smoky, earthy undertone on the palate. This is a warm, vibrant, well-structured Pinot. Fruit was destemmed into open top fermenters & cold soaked at 5°C for 7 days. The must was hand plunged three times daily before inoculation with selected yeast. The ferment lasted 6 days after which the fermenters were capped & left to rest for 10 days before the wine was gently pressed directly to French oak barrels. The wine is characterized by a purity of fruit aromas, ripe tannins & intelligent use of oak. The wine was then racked onto fine lees. The grapes were harvested between 12
- 17 April 2009. Searved New Zealand lamb with grilled vine ripened tomatoes.