100% Pinot Noir. 2006 in Martinborough was a warm, classic vintage. Average yields of 30hl/ha on rocky, old riverbed soils meant perfectly balanced vines during the fantastic growing season. 100% hand-harvested grapes, fermented in open top oak and stainless steel vessels using the indigenous yeasts found in the vineyard and winery. Manual cap plunging occurred during fermentation. Transferred to French oak barrels (35% new) and left on lees for a period of 9 months before bottling. Unfined but filtered. Winemakers Steve Smith MW and Adrian Baker.
Quite a spicy, woody smell. Fuller, meatier and stronger than the Stoneleigh. Cracking wine.
Alc 13.8%, TA 5.6g/l, pH 3.55. Available from Wine Direct and 25 branches.
15/10/2008