Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir

A very rewarding season in well managed vineyards. Spring rain gave us healthy canopies. Mild summer days with plentiful warmth and sunshine - thankfully without the heat spikes of warmer vintages - and an Indian summer that stretched into April were perfect for ripening late in the season. Small crops with intense flavour and solid natural acidity were hallmarks of the season.

Vinification:

100% Hand picked. Destemmed to open top fermenters with 25% whole bunches. 5 day cold soak at 8 degrees was performed followed by natural fermentation with indigenous yeast strains. Both gentle plunging and 'drain and returns' by gravity were applied daily to the fermenters. Fermentation peaked at 32 deg C with an short extended maceration at dryness to integrate tannins. 60% of this wine was matured in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness. Indigenous malolactic fermentation occurred spontaneously at the end of autumn. The wine was settled and one coarse lenticular filtration applied prior as a final polishing in the cellar. No filtration at bottling.

Scores & Awards
'Chairmans Award' - 2013 Riverside International Wine Competition, USA
93 points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
92 points - Ralph Ktye-Powell, Epicure
92 Points - Ray Jorday, West Australian
92 Points - Alan Hunter, Courier Mail
92 Points - Jeremy Pringle, online
91 Points - Campbell Mattinson, online

James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
"Very good clear crimson-purple; red and black cherry fruit leaps from the glass on the first whiff and first taste; a high quality pinot from a very good vintage that is all about varietal fruit, with enough spice and oak to satisfy all comers.” 

Product Information

Vintage : 2012
Region : Yarra Valley
Type : Pinot Noir
Alcohol % : 13.5%
Size : 750ml