Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir

The Waipara Valley is in the South Island of New Zealand. To the east, Waipara Valley is separated from the Ocean (Pegasus Bay) by a range of hills which protect it from the cooling winds of the Pacific. To the west lie the Southern Alps (Main Divide) from where the region's hot north west winds derive. Its sheltered position and proximity ot the sea give it warm day,s cool nights and a dry autumn, resulting in a very prolonged ripening period. This promotes intense flavour development and optimal ripeness, while retaining good natural acidity. Within the Waipara Valley Pegasus Bay vineyard gets maximum protection from the Pacific's easterly breezes by being tucked up under the lee of the Teviotdale Range. Heat summation during the day is promoted by smooth stones and gravels left behind by an ice age glacier. The soil is free drianing and of low fertility, resulting in naturally reduced vine vigour. This produces low yields of optimally ripened, high waulity, flavourful grapes which fully express the qualities of this unique setting. After picking, the grapes, without any stems, are put into fermenting vats, retaining as many whole berries as possible. They are kept cool over a few days to extract the soft, silky trannins from their skins. After this time, the grapes are warmed enough to start fermenting. After maturing for 18 months in barrels, the batches made from the many different plots of Pinot Noir are carefully blended in various portions according to the taste to produce this wine. The wine has aromas and flavours of black cherry, blackberry, raspberry and mulberry underlain with earthiness. The ripe tannins flow through the wine which draws out its lingering after taste.