Vicarage Lane Pinot Noir

Awards:
Peter Saunders, Senior Wine Judge, NZ; 5 out of 5 stars: “Warmly-textured, medium-bodied Pinot, tasting very well in the fruit department and still opening out after two years. Finely-tuned aromatics. A very nice partner to lamb, appropriately for a Canterbury wine! Enjoy when available, into 2020.”

Fruit: The grapes were hand harvested from a stoney, riverbed vineyard in the Waipara district of Canterbury in May 16.

Winemaking: Grapes were 100% crushed and de-stemmed to small open vats, then macerated for five days pre-fermentation. Fermentation began spontaneously with no yeast addition, skins were hand-plunged regularly, where temperature peaked at 30ºC. The vats were pressed after five days post-fermentation maceration and the wine placed in one and two year old medium toast French oak barrels. The wine was matured in oak for ten months before bottling.

Bottled: From September 2017
Released: October 2017

Wine Analysis:
Total Alcohol 13.7%v/v
Titratable Acid 5.2 g/L
Total Sugar <1 g/L

Tasting Notes: This softer style Pinot Noir is focused and concentrated, showing a mid red colour, with purple hues and aromas of raspberry, strawberry and red cherries. With a palate of soft tannins, good structure and a touch of oak, it has pure Pinot Noir fruit flavours. Ideal for drinking now or will cellar well for drinking over the next 5 years.

Food Matches: Serve a bit cooler than room temperature on its own, or match with roasted chicken and roast vegetables, or with flavoursome fish such as tuna or salmon, or with red meats, especially game, served with a mushroom sauce. Excellent at Christmas time with the ham!