Crowded House Pinot Noir

GRAPES

100% Pinot Noir

DISTRICT OF ORIGIN OF GRAPES

100% Marlborough, New Zealand

VINIFICATION

Sourced from four different Marlborough vineyards in both Awatere and Wairau valleys, the fruit was fermented in pneumatically plunged open top fermenters. All batches had a minimum 5 day cold soak followed by 7 – 10 days fermentation. Some parcels were fermented naturally while others were inoculated with commercial yeast. All batches had extended skin contact post fermentation. The wine was run to a mix of new and used French oak barriques for malolactic fermentation and oak maturation before bottling in March 2013.

ANALYSIS

• Alcohol 13.1%
• pH 3.72
• Acid 5.5 g/L
• Sugar Dry

COLOUR

Bright ruby red.

NOSE

Dark cherries, red berry fruits and bramble notes, with dried herbs and spice in the background.

PALATE

Silken and seductive mouthfeel with plush dark cherry fruit, gentle savoury notes and fine integrated tannins which provide a framework to carry the fruit with great persistence.

FOOD MATCH

Pairs perfectly with a classic pizza or tomato based pasta through to more serious lamb and duck dishes.

WINEMAKERS COMMENTS

I believe 2012 will be a hallmark year for Marlborough Pinot Noir – a year where the wines made themselves. Crops were very light (as low as 2T/Ha in some vineyards) but the quality was exceptional with terrific flavour and structure at moderate berry sugar levels. As always with Crowded House Pinot Noir, the fruit and wine were very gently handled in order to preserve the delicate and alluring fruit characters for which Pinot Noir is renowned, whilst making it approachable and enjoyable as a young wine.

I hope you find as much pleasure in drinking this wine as I had in crafting it.