2016 Ata Mara Pinot Noir Tasting Notes

2016 Pinot Noir

Drink to: On release and over the next 3-7 years

Colour: Dark magenta core, bright pink rim, clear & bright

Nose: Beautifully fragrant and ripe, the well-hung fruit is rich, warm and inviting. Black cherry, violet florals and pencil-box oak with orange peel and cinnamon.

Palate: Generous and plush the ripe red fruit flavours are well supported by lovely soft, layered tannins and very good length of flavour. There is a juicy succulence that is very appealing.

Oak: Yes, all French coopers, just over 10% new

MLF: Yes – 100% in-barrel malolactic fermentation

Winemaker’s Comment: From the Ata Mara vineyard on the Wanaka Cromwell highway, a cool site on the heavy clay soils that Pinot just loves. Late ripening, the fruit gets a wonderfully long growing season allowing plenty of time for physiological and flavour development. Pinot hates being rushed.

Handpicked from several different clones from all over the vineyard with each parcel individually batch-fermented, some with whole bunches included, to show lots of different characters and allow plenty of blending options to make the best wine we can.

Vinified with a light touch and barrel matured with a relatively small portion of new oak, the wine is a fruit and site expression.

SILVER MEDAL – Bragato Wine Awards, Sep 17

Fining: egg white
Technical Analysis: Alc 14.2% T/A 5.4g/L RS 0.37g/L