Sound fruit is essential to the production of good Pinot noir. It is a tribute to our vineyard staff and their meticulous management that the fruit for this wine was harvested in perfect condition in what was quite a difficult vintage. The early season heat gave the ripest fruit tannins we have seen, so 45% whole bunches were used in the ferments - all of which were started as 'wild' or 'natural' ferments to utilise the stalks which are the richest source of these fruit tannins. As for the'95 whites, the Pinot is less varietal-fruit driven and more complex than the '94 wines. The nose reveals hints of mint, cherry, French oak and some herbal/spice notes. The flavours are bright, and the palate is rich, with a big but velvety tannic structure and the herbal/spice flavours associated with this. Although the wine is well structured, the tannins do not dominate the fruit and they will moderate relatively quickly over the next 12 months or so. Martinborough produces world class Pinot noir fruit, and this wine represents a further stylistic step toward the production of alternatives to finest French Burgundies. The wine is drinking well as a young wine and will repay cellaring, providing the storage conditions are appropriate (see The effect of cellaring conditions on your wine). |
