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PINOT NOIR Canterbury 2006
The Kaituna Vineyard
Each year we craft this wine around a blend of the “old’ vines (now 32 years old) and the younger vines (12 years old) which are a selection of Burgundian clones (777, 115, 113, 114 and 667). The old vines consistently produce a wine with rich, earthy and spicy fruit and soft tannins. The younger vines contribute fresh, vibrant fruit and mineral flavours with a structure of abundant, firmer fruit tannins.
2006 was a very good vintage and has produced a wine of finesse, poise and complexity. The wine shows a gorgeous perfume of plum, black cherry, earth, forest floor and spicy oak. The palate is rich, dense and finely textured with beautiful harmony and balance. Generous flavours of plum, cherry, savoury and baking spice abound.
Technical Notes:
The home vineyard was hand-picked on 10 and 30 April 2006 and fermented as four selected parcels based on soil type, slope and stage of physiological maturity. Fruit was chilled, carefully sorted, de-stemmed and gently crushed into small batch fermenters prior to a cold maceration of 4 to 6 days. The wines were hand-plunged over a prolonged skin contact time of 30 days. The wine was pressed directly to oak barrels (50% new) from a variety of artisan Burgundian coopers. The wine completed malolactic fermentation in spring and was blended and racked to tank after 14 months in barrel on light lees. The wine was bottled in August 2007.
Results:
- 94/100 5 star “ Rich, dense and warming wine with a complex array of plum, licorice, earth, forest floor and spicy oak. The wine reflects the benefits of vine age; Kaituna Vineyard is home to some of the countries oldest pinot noir vines” -Gourmet Traveller Wine Nov 2008
- 4 & 1/2 star ”This striking wine shows bright medium red colour, beautifully lifted nose displaying black plum, cherry and floral characters with a touch of spice. The palate is ripe and finely textured with excellent harmony and balance.” -Wine Orbit 2008
- 4 star -Cuisine Magazine Oct 2008
- Best of the Best Wine Guide 2009 “With some vine age, this label once again shows the strength and texture of the best of pinot noir, very classy in its fruit and mouth–feel. Approachable now and opening up beautifully. One of New Zealand’s finest” -Peter Saunders Food and Beverage Magazine
- Silver Medal New Zealand International Wine Show 2007
“A striking pinot displaying incredible harmony and balance with layers of black plum, spice, earth and floral characters. A real treat.” Sam Kim Christchurch Press 27 Sept 2008
Previous results:
One of Bob Campbell’s Top 10 New Zealand Pinot Noirs – CUISINE 100th Issue
2005 vintage:
- Gold Medal Royal Easter Wine Show 2007
- 96/100 5 star Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine Aug 2007
- 93/100 5 star Bob Campbell www.bobswinereviews.com
2004 vintage:
- Gold Medal Japan Wine Show 2006
- BLUE - GOLD Medal Sydney International Wine Show 2006
- 5 star Winestate Magazine Jul/Aug 2006
- Gold Medal Bragato Wine Awards 2006
- 5 star Hawke’s Bay Today 21 April 2007
2003 vintage:
- GOLD MEDAL Bragato Wine Awards 2004
- 5 star Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2005
- 5 star NZ Home and Entertainment Feb/Mar 2005
- 5 star WINESTATE MAGAZINE July/Aug 2005
2002 vintage:
- Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2003
- 5 star WINESTATE MAGAZINE July/Aug 2004
- 5 star Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2004 (Potential Classic)
2001 vintage:
- Gold Medal Liquorland TOP 100 International Wine Show 2002
- Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2002
- 5 star Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines 2003
2000 vintage:
- Gold Medal Air New Zealand Wine Awards 2001
- Gold Medal Liquorland Top 100 Wine Awards 2001
- 5 star Michael Cooper Classic Wines of New Zealand Wines 2005
1999 vintage:
- Gold Medal Liquorland Top 100 Wine Awards 2000
1998 vintage:
- 96/100 5 star CUISINE Magazine New Zealand Reds September 2000
1993 vintage:
- Gold Medal & Trophy for Champion Pinot Noir Liquorland Royal Easter Show 1995
