Isabel Estate Vineyard - Pinot Noir 2004

isabel estate pinot noir 2004

Isabel Estate Block 2 rows 63 -142 Block 4 rows 154 -256

Variety
Pinot Noir Clone: Am 10/5, UCD 5 and UCD 6, CIVC 375, Dijon 113, 114, 115, 667, 777, DRC ABLE

Harvest Date
2nd April - 16th April 2004

Bottling Date
21st March 2005

Viticulture
We utilised irrigation as a tool to give mild water stress at flower set for open bunches and tiny berries were the order of the day. The resulting smaller leaves allowed us to lengthen the ripening period giving us fruit at optimum ripeness in every respect. We aim for 1 Kilogram per vine or less at harvest, we arrive at this by removing bunch shoulders and entire bunches. Extra care was carried out at leaf plucking for controlled sunlight on the berries to avoid over exposure - and the associated 'boiled jam' characters.

Oenology
After all fruit was de-stemmed each individual clone was placed into its own specially designed open top stainless steel fermentation tank. An extended cold soak (for up to 6 days) ensued. Followed by a long fermentation, rising to a peak temperature of up to 35 degrees Celsius (94 Fahrenheit), employing different strains of yeast as well as allowing some 'wild' fermentation with regular gentle plunging down of the cap to extract colour and flavours. Batches were drained and underwent a light pressing before being transferred by gravity into French oak barrels (20 % of which were new) for maturation. Malo-lactic fermentation was completed by the following Spring. After 10 months in 100% French bariques the best barrels were chosen to make the final blend with true expression of our unique site displaying elegance and finesse as is Pinot Noir.

First thoughts were....like sipping cherry-cola out of a cigar box.. Voluptuous wine with integrated tannins, spicy nose, rich and elegant, a dark ruby colour, with chocolate nose and concentrated fruit flavours of plum and ripe blackberries with a subtle spiciness, pepper and smoke notes. A luscious length palate, full-bodied with an outstanding depth of fruit, drinking well now, we believe this wine has the structure of a long-lived wine.

Brix: 24-25
pH: 3.3-3.45
TA: 7.5-9.2g/l

Wine Analysis
13% alcohol
5.4g/l titratable acidity
1g/l residual sugar

Download tasting notes

accolades

94+ Points "Swoon. Schmooch. Sigh. This is what it's s'posed to be like in Pinot World. Luscious and viscous, spicy and totally seductive, there's no point in resisting; she slides all over your sensories like some wicked therapy oil, massaging every little worry away. I'd always through Martinborough (North Island) was the sexiest NZ pinot site, but this beauty says the wide valley of Marlborough, in the South, can do it just as well"
Philip White, The Independent Weekly, Adelaide, March 24th - 30th 2007

90 Points... took some time to open up, but when it did it was rather lovely ... the finish seemed minerally and attractive, the mid palate softened and seduced, and its prospects for the cellar very good.
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front, January 2007

"has delicious plum and red berry flvours with a spicy lift, a silky mouthful and lingering finish.
Irish Independent, February 2008

Harpers Choice
My Top 5 - Jeremy Beadles, Chief executive, The Wine & spirit Trade Association
Isabel Pinot Noir

Highest rating wines - above $20
"Very good intensity of plum-like fruit, rich mouthfeel with good depth of developed earthy, spice, plum, caramel flavours."
National Liquor News, Australia, September 2007

"Outstanding!" ....5 Stars. Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines, 2006 Edition

"This outstanding red is...a generous, warm, spicy and earthy wine, with a deliciously soft texture and impressive concentration and complexity.".....5 Stars
Michael Cooper's Buyers Guide to NZ Wine, 2005 Edition

4 Stars "Clean, pure Pinot Character. Smooth palate, elegant bright fruit characters, soft tannin, juicy finish."....
Decanter Magazine, June 2005