Martinborough Pinot Noir - The Elder Pinot

The Vineyard

The vineyard is located on an elevated river terrace at the southern end of the Te Muna Valley, at the confluence of the Ruakokopatuna and Huangarua Rivers. The grapes are grown following
organic principles in the most sustainable manner possible, with minimal use of irrigation.

The Season

A warm settled spring with no frosts and very little wind provided an excellent start to the season. The lovely weather continued through into summer giving us favorable fruit sets in all varieties and everything was looking very positive. February threw us a curveball with high humidity and rainfall was three times higher than the monthly average meaning extra vineyard work was needed to thin canopies and bunches. Overall a very promising vintage with bright fruit expression, low acids, and supple tannin structure.

The Cellar

All fruit was carefully hand-picked over two vineyard passes. In the winery, we destemmed all fruit into 3T open-top tanks, and fermentation started naturally from indigenous yeasts, which add to the wine’s complexity. The wine spent between 18 and 20 days on skins including punching down by hand up to two times a day, before being pressed to French oak barrels. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation in the barrel and remained on its lees for ten months before racking, blending, and bottling.

Tasting Notes

Aromas of ripe dark red berry fruits dominate the nose with hints of spice and floral notes in the background add complexity. Velvet soft tannins form the backbone of this succulent and vibrant Pinot Noir. Spice flavours come through on the mid palate along with rich
cherry fruit flavours and underlying savoury notes. This is a superbly
balanced, elegant and weighted Pinot capable of ageing for up to ten
years.