2022 Stefano Lubiana La Roccia Pinot Noir Biodynamic, Derwent Valley

We have spent the last 35 years working on identifying specialised sites on our Granton Estate for the development of iconic Pinot Noir. Our Single Block Pinot Noir range has been selected for their specific terrior, the soil type that truly express the uniqueness of each Pinot Noir. 

La Roccia, or the ‘rock’ in Italian, is a nod to the main geological feature of this block; a large limestone rock shelf in the middle of the block. Our La Roccia consistently produces wines with the greatest structure and tannin.

A shower of fine, mouth-coating, millefeuille tannins, which cloak and enmesh the fruit, lending gravitas. With time and air, it reveals glimpses of a seam of red cherry/cherrystone, blackcurrant, and blueberry fruit, yet to be mined. Chalky, mineral acidity maintains the flow. Classy oak polishes to a fine sheen. Impressive structure from a hillside block on deep red clay marl over clay, with limestone bedrock. Embryonic.

96 points The World of Fine Wine

La Roccia: the rock. 
 
This block is 1.5ha in size and is located on a beautiful north-eastern hillside, overlooking the Derwent River at an elevation of 80m. This block is mostly terra rossa soil, deep red clay-marl over clay, with limestone bedrock. Free, draining, high-pH soil.
 
The Pinot clones consist of 667 and 115, and are on their own roots. This block is always the first to be harvested and consistently provides the most structure and tannin of the three sites, needing longer ageing in bottle to come into full balance. The vines grown in this parcel have the lowest vigour and therefore the most exposure to the sun. There’s a big rock shelf in the middle of the block, whence it derives its name.