Pinot Noir

Our first vintage was released in 2005 and sold out almost immediately. We held the NZ wine industry's first ever en primeur offer in London and whilst this was meant to be a one-month offer one quarter of the offer was sold within 3 hours of the offer opening and the rest within 3 days. Fortunately, we have planted half our vineyards in Pinot Noir, and as these come on stream supply will not be an issue (from 2006 onweards). This wine has already been judged the Southern Hemisphere's top Pinot Noir (Southern Hemisphere Wine Show, USA) and NZ's Top 2004 Pinot Noir (at NZ's most prestigious single vineyard competition, Bragatto).

Overall style: More Burgundian than new world. One of the deepest hued Pinot's we've ever seen and yet it has very soft tannins – an extremely unusual combination (normally a dark colour is obtained by extensive exposure of the wine to grape skins – but the latter then usually creates rather harsh tannins). While showing the concentrated fruit aromas typical of NZ Pinot Noir's this wine is also strikingly complex and medium-full bodied.
Grape Clones: 6 different clones (mainly Burgundian) on 4 rootstocks.
Age-ability: Our Pinot Noir's are well structured and will typically age for up to 6 years.
Making: Hand harvested, gently destemmed, warm, indigenous fermentation on skins for up to 20 days, pressed to French Oak barriques, aged in oak for up to 12 months. Lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling, if required.
Tastes/Aromas: Rich layers of ripe cherry fruit, subtle oak with the classic Burgundian "barnyard" notes.
Moderate alcohol (13.5-14.2%, depending on vintage) with great balance of acid, tannin and fruit.