Stony Bank Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018

Description

• Subtle oak
• Strawberry & cherry
• Clove & nutmeg
• Soft tannins

Stony Bank Marlborough Pinot Noir is an elegant, soft and rounded wine with aromas of strawberries, red cherries and a just touch of oak. Vibrant red fruits shine through on the palate, while delicate spice, clove and nutmeg with nice savoury oak create a lingering and moreish finish.

Grown exclusively in the famous Wairau Valley, in ancient riverbed stones and gravels the vines struggle to survive, producing only a handful of deeply coloured, intensely flavoured grapes with exceptionally soft tannins.

The 2018 harvest began early, on the 7th of March, with fruit flavours and grape health looking good. However, the detailed 10-day weather forecast showed dark clouds and prolonged rain moving in. As vintage 2017 began, winemakers hit the accelerator and managed to have 90% of their fruit in the door before the next downfall. An ideal weather window post-rain and some good spring winds managed to dry out the canopies and finish the season perfectly for the late harvest and botrytis varieties. So all in all, a good vintage with clean, varietal fruit flavours, balanced acidity and great palate weight.