The 2020 growing season began with a wet spring and later then average budburst. This inclement wet, breezy spring weather led to poor flowering and set and from the outset we realized the crop would be well below the already low cropping Medhurst average. A mild, dry December was followed by a showery January and February which enabled the fruit to ripen at a gentlemanly pace with picking commencing the first week of March. The resultant crop whilst small (40% below average), was of extremely high quality. The bunches were tight and compact, clean and of high flavour and importantly comprised of beautiful natural acids and soft tannins. The wines are looking bright, and energetic in their youth. The 2020 releases will have that lovely balance of fruit weight, complexity, line and length.

Brilliant appearance with crimson/purple hues. The cool season brings an ethereal nose of dark fruits and spice, the palate a supple and fine Pinot Noir expression of pure fruit and ripe tannins. The 2020 season has delivered us a wine of incredible balance and charm. A detailed and expressive wine that will mature gracefully over the next 5-8 years.

Our Estate vineyard Pinot Noir is a blend of two blocks (both MV6), the gravelly hungrier duplex clays of the North facing B block (55%) and the cooler loamy brown soils on the south facing C block (45% of blend). Hand-picked on the 11th and 13th of March respectively, the fruit was kept in the coolroom overnight. De-stemming into vats the following morning, fruit purity of utmost importance with daily gentle wetting of the cap and CO2 (dry ice) for protection. Once fermentation commenced on day four (indigenous yeasts finally co-operating), the cap was pumped over very gently twice per day, with the odd pigeage towards the end. The batches remained ‘on skins’ for 15 days. At the completion of fermentation, the wine was pressed to tank and then racked to French oak barrels (29% new) for malolactic fermentation. 10 months in oak, before being bottled February 2nd, 2021.

Our 2020 Estate Vineyard Pinot noir is would match well with Coq a Vin, potatoes au gratin and fresh peas.