Amisfield Breakneck Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir 2016

Description

"Limited edition wine made from a selection of the best barrels. More intense but with similarly bright, vibrant acidity than the regular label. Plum, dark berry, cherry flavours are flattered by spicy oak. A powerful Pinot Noir with cellaring potential. (cellar potential 2019-2027)" Bob Campbell, Master of Wine, Real Review

Expressive red fruits layered with subtle spice. Impressive weight with juicy plushness on the palate. Chalky tannins add a complexing textural element and a lingering finish.

Over the years of growing on the Amisfield Estate, winemakers have been impressed with the evolution of block 7 Pinot Noir vines which are growing in the Lochar sandy loams soils. This is their first release of a barrel selection from this site.

The weather leading up to harvest was warm and dry with yields up 10% due to the well formed grape bunches. Unstable weather during harvest was not ideal and there were some frost and intermittent rain events. Phenological ripeness occurred at slightly lower brix levels.

Hand-harvested fruit was coldsoaked for four to five days before the natural fermentation began. Gentle, selective timing of handplunging and some pulse air during fermentation helped to extract the delicate skin and seed tannins. Approximately 10% whole-bunch clusters were included in some of the ferments. Maturation was 16 months in 20% tight-grain French oak. This is a barrel selection of the clonal ferments across block 7 of our Estate.