$100.00
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Region: Central Otago
Grapes: Pinot Noir
First Glance: Exotic Spice, Savoury Earth, Sandalwood, Red Fruit
The Wine:
This wine is from Cornish Point vineyard where the close proximity to Lake Dunstan (surrounded on three sides) creates a unique mesoclimate. Heavy silt soils overlie alluvial gravels interspersed with calcareous seams.
The unique gravity flow winery enabled the grapes to be gently destemmed directly into open-top fermenters without pumping, with 20% retained as whole clusters. Traditional fermentation with a moderately long maceration on skins has extracted good colour and tannin with considerable depth of flavour. This wine was aged for 13 months in 25% new French oak barrels from artisan Burgundian coopers.
The vivacious fruit and spices are present as always, but are perhaps lighter in tone and more exotic. The palate has a savoury tone, which sits surprisingly well with the usual Cornish Point indulgences: luxurious fruit and exotic woods like Sandalwood, even Lebanon Cedar. The tannins are beautifully balanced and integrated, ever present, but never interfering; just contributing to the overall stature.
