Akitu A1 Black Label Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018

Akitu A1 Black Label Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018"Estate grown 380 metres above sea level at Mt Barker, in the Wanaka sub region, the barrel aged 2018 vintage is a very elegant red, full of youthful drive. Ruby hued, mouth filling and sweet fruited, it is silky and savoury, with cherryish, spicy, nutty flavours, showing excellent poise and complexity. Best drinking 2022+. This wine is a classic" Michael Cooper "Considering the heat of this vintage, this has turned out really well. This is taut and

"Estate-grown 380 metres above sea level at Mt Barker, in the Wanaka sub-region, the barrel-aged 2018 vintage is a very elegant red, full of youthful drive. Ruby hued, mouth-filling and sweet-fruited, it is silky and savoury, with cherryish, spicy, nutty flavours, showing excellent poise and complexity. Best drinking 2022+. This wine is a classic" Michael Cooper

"Considering the heat of this vintage, this has turned out really well. This is taut and aromatic with fresh, vivid cherry and raspberry fruit. The palate has a lovely energy, showing bright, elegant red and black cherry fruit with a silky texture: there’s some finesse and a fine herbal quality sitting under the fruit. There’s a lovely fruit quality here, but it blends so beautifully with the more savoury, structural elements" Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, Sep 2020

"Fresh, youthful and fruit centric bouquet with aromas of fresh raspberry and dark cherry, sweet oak and spices to match a toasty barrel scent. Youthful and quietly complex. Tense, youthful and dry on the palate with a firm and youthful texture, chalky tannins and ripe almost sweet acid line. Flavours of fruits and spices reflect the nose. Length youthful finish, well made and ready to enjoy from today and through 2028" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier, Sep 2020

Every sense is activated from the first pass, this wine is all about depth and complexity. Spice, wild herbs and brooding plummy fruit emanate from the glass with an airy perfume. Intriguing brown spice rack and graphite infuse with leafy sous bois aromatics. The nose is highly detailed - compact and focused - it should open impressively with time. Very fine and silky entry, plenty of structure over a precise and linear framework. Delicate form with harmonic acidity driving line and length. The balance between fruit, tannin and acid is special and suggests a fascinating voyage ahead. Detail, perfumed aromatics, silk-like texture and subtle persistence define this year’s A1. Compelling now but definitely one for the cellar, 5 to 7 years to the high plateau of evolution.

Food Pairing: big or small, wild or farmed, but duck with potatoes roasted in said bird’s fat would be perfect. Salad, as usual, entirely optional.