Alex K Five Boroughs Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016 (Export label by Kalex Wines)

Description

• Unfiltered & unfined
• Cherry
• Violet
• Roasted nuts
• Warm spice

"It is beautifully fruited and inviting on the nose showing spiced cherry, thyme, olive and roasted nut characters with a hint of truffle. The palate delivers excellent concentration and savoury complexity, wonderfully supported by refined mouthfeel and silky texture. At its best: now to 2025" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit

Violet petals, warm schist & red fruits dominate the aromas of this textural, layered Pinot Noir. The palate is silky, savoury, and seductive – spice & lifted red fruits.

The fruit for this wine was sourced from Northburn, Bendigo, Bannockburn and Lowburn.

After a warm, early start to the season, an unusually cold November saw snow fall on the mountains and it put a halt on things a little. The vines soon caught up with a warm December, January and February. It was a drier season than normal although rains in February created some botrytis pressure. Harvest was short and sweet, taking around four weeks rather than the usual six. It is thought that most wineries had their fruit in before April 12th, when snow fell.

Hand harvested when flavour & acidity profile are at their optimum. Winemakers typically pick at 21.5-23.5 brix depending on the vineyard. The fruit is hand sorted twice and partially destemmed (depending on vineyard, usually 50% whole cluster, one or two 100% destemmed) into 2.5 tonne vats. There is no addition of SO2 at this point and the wines ferment spontaneously. The ferment reaches 25-27°C at peak and grapes are pumped over gently twice a day until 2/3 ferment is over, then twice daily foot plunging by the lightest person in the winery. The wine is on skins between 5-8 weeks. Pressings are combined with free run juice and each vineyard component is kept separate to ensure the greatest expression of each site. MLF is totally native and no SO2 is added until wine is racked and blended to tank, helping to integrate tannins and allow the wine to develop as a whole. Unfiltered & unfined.

The Alex K ‘Five Boroughs‘ Pinot Noir 2016 is identical wine to the Kalex Pinot Noir 2016. This label was used for an export order.