COLOUR

Ruby red

NOSE

Red currant and plum aromas with spice box and earthy notes in the background.

PALATE

An elegantly structured pinot noir with weighty fruit and fine powdered tannins.

SERVE

Best served at a cool, but not cold temperature.

PEAK DRINKING

Drinking beautifully as a young wine but will reward you with up to 5 years cellaring.

SUGGESTED FOOD MATCH

Duck Terrine.

ALCOHOL VOLUME

14.5%

ACIDITY

5.9

RESIDUAL SUGAR

1.0g/L

VINTAGE REGION

The wine was sourced from the Hard Case Vineyard on Caseys Road in the Blind River subregion of the Awatere Valley in Marlborough. The vineyard has earned its name due to the shallow, light soil which, although a challenge, results in elegant, inviting Pinot Noir.

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The 2010 Marlborough growing season started with cool but stable weather through flowering. As a result the vines gave us an even fruit set but with naturally lower yields. The cool weather continued into autumn. This colder than usual start to the season extended the ripening period, which is perfect for intensifying flavours and concentrating aromatics. A later burst of warm and settled weather meant we reached maximum sugar ripeness without any problems or disease pressure. In the winery things were as calm as the weather – the fruit quality was excellent, the flavours and concentration were outstanding and the winery team was smiling. A dream harvest.

GRAPE VARIETY

100% Pinot Noir.

MATURATION

The wine was matured for 10 months in 1 year old French barriques.