Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020

Wairau River Marlborough Pinot Noir 2020Frech oak Dark plum & raspberry Ripe fruit Fine tannins "Offering splendid fruit purity and fragrance, the wine shows dark plum, sweet cherry, roasted nut and subtle spice aromas on the nose. The palate delivers ripe fruit intensity and persistency beautifully supported by silky mouthfeel and fine tannins. Harmonious and pristine with elegant complexity. At its best: now to 2025" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2021 "Fresh, fruity, varietal and youthful with

• Frech oak
• Dark plum & raspberry
• Ripe fruit
• Fine tannins

"Offering splendid fruit purity and fragrance, the wine shows dark plum, sweet cherry, roasted nut and subtle spice aromas on the nose. The palate delivers ripe fruit intensity and persistency beautifully supported by silky mouthfeel and fine tannins. Harmonious and pristine with elegant complexity. At its best: now to 2025" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, Jun 2021

"Fresh, fruity, varietal and youthful with aromas and flavours of red apple and plum, red berries and roses. There’s a layer of wood with some barrel spices and a whisper of smoke. Fleshy, crisp and dry on the palate with flavours of red berries and red currants, some sweet wood notes and fine tannins. Balanced, well made and ready to drink upon purchase and through 2024" Cameron Douglas, Master Sommelier

Concentrated raspberry and red cherry notes are supported by rich savory complexity. The palate is soft and generous, with notes of wild berries and bramble framed by subtle elegant tannins providing structure and depth.

Flowering commenced in the first week of December. During this period, the region experienced perfect flowering conditions. January to March produced some of the driest months on record culminating in one of the most exceptional harvests ever seen from the region. Picking began in the 2nd week of March and concluded in the second week of April. The drawn-out nature of the harvest allowed the winemakers to pick at optimal balance and sugar ripeness, as well as physiological ripeness. The warm and fine weather through the late summer months has allowed the development of a riper spectrum of tropical flavours. The resulting wines have wonderful fruit concentration and aromatic power.

Grapes were harvested in the cool of the morning to retain vibrancy and focus. Gentle destemming was followed by cold maceration pre-fermentation, with gentle hand plunging used during fermentation to extract colour and tannins. The skins were gently basket pressed, with the wine matured in French oak barriques, prior to blending and bottling.