Estate grown from own two high density (7700-11,111 vines per hectare) blocks, planted on volcanic soils, comprising of 12 different Pinot Noir clones. The grapes were hand-picked and gently destemmed. 100% whole berry fermentation for 3 weeks before pressing and maturing on full lees for 18 months in French oak barriques (20% new). Unfined and unfiltered, to retain full expression of our vineyard, this wine was bottled in November 2019.
On the nose, this wine is brimming with dark red fruits, sous bois and graphite. The palate is long with intense red fruits, dark berries, cured meats and blood plums, interwoven with, fragrant cloves, fine spice and wonderful minerality. The chalky, mouth coating tannins are fine, and persistent. A powerful wine with great length and tension and weight, that can be enjoyed now, and will also reward careful cellaring. Cellar to 2028.
As for all, estate-grown (12 clones), hand-picked and a lengthy wild yeast-whole berry ferment. It offers a garden of spices alongside almost casual purity of varietal fruit, but the core of this great pinot is its mouthfeel and length created by the stealth of its oh so fine yet persistent tannins. There's no bombast here, just infinite class.
98 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au 1 August 2020