Blackhouse Reserve Canterbury Pinot Noir 2020

2020 was a superb growing season that was considerably warmer than normal. Pinot Noir had excellent flowering and summer progressed well with adequate moisture, warm days and relatively cool nights.
The grapes were hand-harvested with the majority destemmed to open fermenters. One batch making up 14 percent of the blend was fermented with 20 percent whole bunches. After a cold soak a fast fermentation ensued with plunging twice daily. The wines were then left on skins for a further period. The wines were all aged in French oak barrels, 20 percent of which were new, for 11 months where they underwent the malolactic fermentation prior to blending and bottling 12 months following harvest.
This wine begins with a sophisticated floral fragrance followed by sweet spice and ripe black cherry and logan berry fruits. The palate is gorgeous – loads of fruit and spice; it’s textural yet silky and velvety with fragrant red fruits and a dark chocolate savoury finish. The wine is very pure with a lovely acidity and long finish.