Maori Point
Reserve Pinot Noir 2013 750ml

GROWING SEASON

The 2013 growing season in Central Otago was considered excellent, despite beginning with frosts and ending with a condensed harvest. Early summer weather was warm and settled, while late summer was hot. A dry autumn allowed for ideal ripening and harvest conditions. Grapes were harvested April 29th – May 2.

WINEMAKING

Grapes were harvested by hand, completely de-stemmed, crushed, and placed in small open-top vessels. Fermentation was performed by native wild yeasts, at warmer fermentation temperatures than usual. Once dry, the wine was pressed and placed into oak barrels. During maturation we repeatedly taste the barrels, and in 2013 we found four barrels from a select area of the vineyard that truly stood apart as a concentrated articulation of the vintage. Those four barrels became this Grand Reserve, and spent sixteen months in oak barrels, 50% new. The wine was bottled without fining or filtering. 

TASTING NOTES

Opulently layered and powerful. The nose shows dark berry fruit and black cherry amid violets and thyme. The full-bodied palate continues with rich fruit and dried flowers, softly complexed with liquorice and spice, lacy acidity, and fine-grained tannins. Given the structure, power, and length, we expect this wine to age well for at least ten years after release. 14.5% alc.