2019 Henty Pinot Noir Magnum

Magnums are bottled under cork with a black wax seal.

Vineyard
Grown on the outskirts of Tarrington, in south-west Victoria, this vineyard is planted in red buckshot soils, rich in minerals and free-draining. The NE-SW rows are VSP trained and grow vines of moderate vigour. Located in the Henty wine region, this site is significantly influenced through summer by cooling winds off the Great Southern Ocean.

Growing Season
The 2018/2019 growing season was wet and cool in Henty early, followed by warm conditions in time for flowering. Benign, cool conditions post-Christmas ensured the harvest of fruit with great flavour and good acidity.

Winemaking
Hand-picked, the fruit was 100% destemmed and loaded into small open fermenters as whole berries. Indigenous ferment began after 5 days, reaching a peak of 33˚C; the resultant wine spent a total of 14 days on skins. Post-press, the wine was settled hard before it was racked to French oak barriques, 15% new. Indigenous MLF took place in barrel during 10 months of maturation, after which the wine was barrel selected select blended and bottled.

Tasting Note
Fruit aromas of red cherry, plum and blueberries work with a dusting of clove-like oak. A highlight of this wine is its graceful core weight that carries from start throughout the long finish. Fine texture provided by the natural tannin/acid structure of the fruit ensures a savoury balance matched to sweet fruited Pinot Noir character. Shape and line define the wines from the cool vineyards of the south-west coastal Victorian Henty region. Representing the vineyards' warm day and cold night provenance.

Independent Review
"Hand-picked fruit destemmed, open ferment with indigenous yeast, 14 days on skins, matured 10 months in French barriques (15% new). A gentle hand has guided this delicate pinot noir which is restrained and coiled even as a three-year-old. Fragrant in aromatic spice, dried flowers, violets, cherry and plum. Precision plus on the palate. So elegant and fine."

95 Points Jeni Port – James Halliday Wine Companion.
(Published 16 August 2022)