Saint Clair Pioneer Block 15 Strip Block Pinot Noir 2010

COLOUR:
Deep ruby red core with purple tinged rim.
AROMA:
Concentrated aromas of ripe black cherries, black currents, aromatic violet notes and toasty mocha oak.
PALATE:
Flavours of ripe dark berries dominate the palate with well balanced acidity and silky ripe tannins. The finish is layered with toasty oak, subtle vanilla and coffee which is followed through with a long lingering finish.

 

Region: Marlborough

Variety: Pinot Noir

Producer: Saint Clair Family Estate

Merchant:

Winemaker Notes: The fruit was harvested when it had reached full physiological ripeness and maximum flavour maturity. At the winery the fruit was held cold for five days prior to fermentation to help extract maximum flavor and to enhance colour stability. Specially selected yeast was used to carry out the primary alcoholic fermentation, during which the fermenting must was hand plunged up to six times daily at the peak of fermentation. At dryness the wine was pressed to tank then racked off gross lees to a mixture of 37 per cent new French oak and older seasoned 225 litre oak barriques. During maturation the barrels were regularly tasted until the right balance was achieved (ten months). During its time the young wine completed malolactic fermentation. The wine was then carefully extracted from oak, blended and prepared for bottling.

Viticulture Notes: Sourced from a single vineyard by the mouth of the Waihopai Valley from clones115, and 777.

Alcohol: 13.5 %