Akarua Pinot Noir

Tasting Note

VARIETY

100% Pinot Noir

REGION

Region: Central Otago
Sub-region: Bannockburn (Cairnmuir)

VINEYARD

Akarua Estate Vineyard

Vineyard block(s): Kawarau13, 10/5, Clutha 5 and Southview.
Aspect: North/West
Vine orientation: East/West
Height above sea level: 270m
Soil: Young alluvial, schist based sandy/silt and sandy loams overlaying schist rock.
Vine age: 13 years
Trellis System: 2 cane VSP
Canopy Management: shoot thinned, hand leaf plucked and crop thinned to 2.2kg per vine.

VINTAGE 2010

Picking date(s): Blocks harvested at optimum ripeness 6/4 - 30/4 2010
Growing conditions: A cooler season overall
Grower Degree Days: 1040 GDD. Cool spring followed by a warm summer and autumn with a good diurnal temperature range for flavour development.
Rain mls: 211mm for Sept-April growing season.

VINIFICATION

Whole bunch fermentation: Nil
Pre-ferment maceration: 5 days
Yeast: Inoculated – various strains
Fermentation heat: Peaked at 31°
Punch-downs: Twice daily
Post fermentation maceration: 6 days
Oak treatment: 10 months in 30% new French barriques, medium-plus toast, various coopers, mostly Alliers & Vosges forests.

APPEARANCE

Deep red / bright / ruby.

STYLE

Displays intense black fruit flavours and the complexity that Bannockburn Pinot Noir is renowned for.

BOUQUET

A lifted bouquet with perfumed violet notes.

PALATE

Soft and beguiling with ripe berry fruit flavours, velvety texture and generous length of flavour. A wonderful vintage year is evident in the poise, concentration and balance this wine possesses.

CELLARING

3-5 years.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

Viticulturist: Gillian Wilson
Winemaker: Matt Connell
Bottled: Feb 2011
Brix at Harvest: 22-24
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Residual Sugar: n/a
Titratable Acidity: 6.0
pH: 3.7