One of the best pinot releases ever from Derwent Estate at Granton on the western bank of the Derwent River.
Rich cherry and dark berry fruits fill the palate and carry through with some firmness. This is a wine of impressive structure thanks to assertive French oak including 20% new wood. Bright natural acidity and perfectly ripened tannins highlight the luscious fruits of this perfectly balanced wine. A classic cool-climate pinot noir to enjoy or cellar.
Awards and Accolades
2014 Vintage: 95 Points - James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion "22yo vines, six clones, 85% destemmed, 15% whole bunches, open-fermented, wild and cultured yeast, hand-plunged, matured in French oak (25% new). Excellent colour; has all the power and depth that enables Tasmania to meet Central Otago on equal terms, both now (?14) and in the far distant future. Layers of lack cherry, satsuma plum and buckets of spice."
From the Winery
Grown on a north-facing-bank of the Derwent River, pinot noir from this 22-year-old cool-climate-vineyard is regarded among the most consistent and reliable in Tasmania. Six different clones are all grown on VSP trellising. The soils are permeable loams over limestone, each block with different depths of topsoil.
Picked at flavour ripeness in small parcels, the grapes were in perfect condition on arrival at the winery where 85% of the fruit was gently de-stemmed and 15% as whole bunch. Eventually 20 open fermenters were used. 15% of the must was inoculated with a selected yeast strain, the balance was allowed to ferment naturally. Most batches spent 28 days on skins, all fermenters were hand plunged four times daily. Gently pressed into 100% French oak, 25% new, no sulphur in barrel, malolactic fermentation naturally occurred in spring. A small amount of Sulphur was added prior to bottling, this vintage was filtered.
