Greenhough ‘Stone’s Throw’ Nelson Pinot Noir 2017

Description

• Blackberry
• Brambles
• Savoury & spicy
• French oak

Fragrant, spice-drawer, orange citrus and cassis aromas, which also carry into the palate. The palate is fresh and defined with flavors of blackberry and brambles, savoury notes and a supple structure of well-bound tannins. Fine and long on the finish.

Spring was mild to cool on the temperature range. These conditions persisted deep enough into the eason to affect flowering, resulting in lighter than average yields at harvest. Rainfall during spring was well above normal. Summer months were slightly cooler than the historical average but dry enough that water restrictions were imposed by late February. Cyclone Debbie (early March) brought unseasonal rainfall and ended the dry period. The cooler season with lighter crop load meant that the fruit ripened more gradually with harvest beginning about a week later than in recent years. All fruit as harvested prior to the onset of the second cyclone, Cook, in mid-April. What was looking to be a prolonged harvest was in the end compressed and like 2016 logistically challenging. Fifteen months beyond the harvest, these wines look vibrant, aromatically expressive and elegantly balanced - reds and whites alike. This is a very good vintage with lower alcohol strengths.

Destemmed in open top fermenters. Punch-downs twice daily during primary ferment. Short, ambient pre-fermentation soak of 1-3 days with single pump over. Both innoculated and wild fermentations. 11 months maturation in French oak (15% new). Blended March and tank aged in tank prior to bottling un-fined and with light filtration only. 

Food Pairing: