The sources here are four vineyards which include the most northerly vineyard on the Omihi saddle, a site called Top Block located on the ‘Golden Mile’, Three Sisters and the Porters vineyard. The fruit was hand-picked and fermented naturally in open-top fermenters with 25% whole bunches. It was then aged in 20% new French barrels for 12 months before being settled in tank and aging on fine lees for a further six months.
There’s delicious perfume with some sappy notes and pure red fruit to intensity kick things off, alongside touches of bramble, florals and a lick of blue fruit. The fine boned structure screams cool climate with powdery tannins and delicate oak supporting a palate that suggests ripe, intensely-flavoured grapes picked at the perfect time, with good acidity. The finish possesses real class and impressive purity. It’s tighter and more coiled than the Central Otago Pinot—if you can’t give it time to unwind, a good decant will work wonders.