From the vineyard

On paper, 2021 reads as a cooler than normal year, but our vines couldn’t have been happier. With warm days calmly weaving throughout the crisp season, our vines would say it wasn’t too hot or cold, but just right.  The average summer temperature of 26 degrees sums up that gentle heat perfectly.  With veraison taking place in February well past the heat peak of January, a cool, not cold, March allowed for a powerful, slow ripening platform to take shape. Harvest commenced in early April after a useful warm spell over Easter, which saw the delivery of powerfully rich yet restrained fruit.  In terms of rainfall, our highest totals came in October and January which only served to bolster our soils at key growing phases.  February was quite dry which allowed for concentration amongst the bunches.  and the moderate rainfall received in March we received moderate rainfall that simply refreshed the vines as they calmly approached fruition.  In summary, it was a dream growing year that we happily liken to 2012, one of our best.

From the winery

Our 2021 Estate Pinot Noir consists of eleven separate lots representing distinct aspects, clones and soils.  Each of these parcels were handled with attention to vineyard details with the aim of maximising site expression.  Indigenous yeasts connect all ferments but varying amounts of whole bunch, post ferment skin contact and individual oak handling were utilised respective to the lot characters themselves.  Each of these parcels combine to form our most complex Pinot Noir, with fragrant spices and a red fruit lift that seamlessly merges with darker fruits and more savoury complexities.  A myriad of vineyard-based tannin entwines with gentle oak handling to accentuate a length of mineral clarity.  After 14 months maturation our Estate blend consists of 9% whole bunch and 24% new oak and was bottled without fining or filtration.